Motorway services have always been more expensive “Which” circulated their annual consumer rant to the press last year; it was about the expense of fuel (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8589123/Motorway-service-station-rip-offs.html).
By way of an explanation why, I found this:
http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Pricing
So, essentially, the Service spots are part of the motorway network; ergo, the service providers don’t own the sites. The Government (Highways Agency) are the landlord, and have set, back in the mists of time, restrictions on how service stops can or cannot be developed. I hadn’t realised the restriction concerning bridges. Plus, as the landlord, the Government has a large take on the profits generated. One would think that privatisation would cause a reduction in pricing.
So, the operators of these sites, with captive audiences, have many restrictions on their trade, plus half of any money they make is taken away anyhow. Hence prices are inflated, because they’re entitled to make a living.
One major difference I notice from the US, is that in the US, whenever you pull off the interstate at any junction, there is always a plethora of services; a gas station, Dennys, motor inn etc. Without inflated prices. Of course, they have more space, but they also have more liberal planning laws (zoning laws). These stops are allowed to advertise on the highway, so there is a level of competition; do you want to eat at Wendys. or wait a few miles for the Arbies? Fill up at Conoco, or wait for the BP stop? Or stretch it a bit further, because the sign says there is a Walmart a bit further, and you have your Walmart discount gas card. There are regulated rest stops on the Interstates, but at these, the services are minimal; parking, a picnic area, toilets and vending machines.
In the UK, when you pull off the motorway at a junction, onto an A-road, what do you see? Usually nothing. The land is privately owned off the A-roads, but the local authorities prevent development. If you are lucky, the junction passes close to a city or a large town, so you might be able to find a normal, cheaper, petrol station to fill up. Of course, there might be regulations in place that prevent the construction of new petrol stations close to a motorway (I don’t know, need to look).
So, there is a logic as to why UK service stations are expensive, and it ties into our Statist mentality; most people are opposed to privatising motorways, and so couldn’t imagine a sell off of the service stops. Selling off just the service spots will have a complication, because a significant proportion of the site area is taken up by the Emergency services, and the Wombles (VOSA) taking a snooze. If the site was privatised, and liberalised, then presumably the site operators will start charging the government a rent.
It only takes a wee bit of planning and common sense not to get ripped off.
