Non-Official, Offline Motorway Services in Ireland

FURET wrote: »

What is planned for Cahir South and Fermoy North? And where exactly are they to be sited?

ok, last december the J11 development was granted by Tipp CC.
http://tippfm.com/news/cahir_planning_approval_appealed

then Topaz (the geniuses who run that shambles that is Cashel "services" just down the motorway) appealed to an Bord Pleanala, who decided in May to refuse permission.
http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/244135.htm

The reason I included J11 was because it was in the Bord Pleanala document for Fermoy as being granted.
Obviously the left hand doesnt know what the right is doing !

I've updated the list on the previous page. Now leaves 50km approx between Fermoy and Cashel and also Cashel and Ballycolla.

Patww79 wrote: »

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Yeah I noticed a Noodle franchise in one of the M1 stations the other day (Lusk Northbound I think it was).

Is this gone into them all?

cargo wrote: »

Yeah I noticed a Noodle franchise in one of the M1 stations the other day (Lusk Northbound I think it was).

Is this gone into them all?

Chopstix - it's opening in a number of Applegreen stations - not just MSSs (similar partnership as they have with Subway).

I stopped at Birdhill MSS last week and have to say after only one visit, it's already my favourite MSS. Felt very spacious and more subtle lighting, wood effect and just a more relaxing experience overall. (it had a Costa, Subway and Burger King but I actually went for their own Applegreen sandwich bar.). Ample car and truck parking also.

I find Mayfield and Obama plaza just too crowded, noisy, plasticky and harsh lighting. I see Supermacs is also opening a new one near Loughrea and others in the future.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/from-barack-obama-to-brian-boru-supermacs-plans-more-plazas-31450715.html

ongarboy wrote: »

I see Supermacs is also opening a new one near Loughrea and others in the future.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/from-barack-obama-to-brian-boru-supermacs-plans-more-plazas-31450715.html

Just off the junction 16 or somewhere further from the motorway? Is it already under construction

I traveled down to Cork twice in the last couple of weeks and used the service areas at junction 3 and junction 8. Junction 3 was a pleasure to use. How the hell did the set up at junction 8 get planning permission? It was chaotic yesterday. Limited parking so cars were thrown all over the place. I was more stressed leaving the area than entering it!

Patww79 wrote: »

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yea, from satelite photo theres maybe about 20 space.
Now, subtract the number of staff cars there, obviously driving individually because Ireland has no proper public transport down the country (or urban planning to have enough of a concentrated population to sustain such services), and you'd have way less than 15 for the public.

At this stage you just have to abandon the car in such a way that it doesnt obstruct anyone too much.
Oh, and ignore all signs and road markings and drive the wrong way if you feel like it too.

Patww79 wrote: »

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the place actually won retail awards including best forecourt in Ireland (or something along those lines) for being so great.

obviously practical stuff like layout and existance of adequate parking isnt a criteria.

jd wrote: »

TBH it's so cr!p I think the NRA should remove the brown service's signs

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.5026769,-7.8818475,3a,75y,359.31h,84.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-QT7Gv2Z2wnZ-B5qFU-dvQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1?hl=en

possibly not needed.

Topaz are amazingly (for a company inept enough to design a place to cater for hundreds of people coming by car, but no parking spaces for them) planning an expansion.

The proposals include an extension to the existing service station building to incorporate 24 hour public toilets and shower facilities.

Additional seating would be provided for the McDonalds restaurant with the construction of a 66 square metre extension.
<snip>
The existing parking on the Topaz owned site is to be rearranged to incorporate spaces for 86 cars, 8 coaches, 20 HGV's, 8 motorcycles and 6 bicycle stands.

A new children's play area and refuse areas are also planned for the site.

http://tippfm.com/news/plans_lodged_for_m8_service_area_expansion

some change in attitude that they are pro-actively trying to attract customers and give them somewhere to park.

EDIT: heres the planning file. http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/15600414/0
As you'd expect, the area of adjacent wasteland which for a very small amount of money should have been a carpark in the first place, is now to be turned into a carpark

EDIT2 : the 86 car spaces are additional, so new total of 114 spaces (meaning old total, including provision for staff, or should it be less whats taken up by staff - 28)