[Guesty]

Anyone have an insight on the policy around the use of the motorway rear access. I am travelling to Halesowen tomorrow and there is no destination charging at my location but it's only 3.1 miles to the Frankley services Ecotricity charger using the 'rear entrance' and 12.8 miles using the motorway exits. The signs explain that there is no access to the M5 but since I would like to be able to only access the services arriving and leaving by the rear access I was wondering what everyone's interpretation of this since I wouldn't be using it as a short cut to the motorway.

This is a 6 mile vs 24 mile diversion there and back

I will very likely just use the motorway access anyway but I may give the services a call first to see if they mind me accessing the rapid charger via the local road. Worst they could say is no.

 

[flipper]

Anyone have an insight on the policy around the use of the motorway rear access. I am travelling to Halesowen tomorrow and there is no destination charging at my location but it's only 3.1 miles to the Frankley services Ecotricity charger using the 'rear entrance' and 12.8 miles using the motorway exits. The signs explain that there is no access to the M5 but since I would like to be able to only access the services arriving and leaving by the rear access I was wondering what everyone's interpretation of this since I wouldn't be using it as a short cut to the motorway.

This is a 6 mile vs 24 mile diversion there and back

I will very likely just use the motorway access anyway but I may give the services a call first to see if they mind me accessing the rapid charger via the local road. Worst they could say is no.

Seems to be accepted practice if you say you're using the charger, but I'm not sure how official it is.
I've done it at Newport Pagnell, and many people have mentioned doing it if one side is out of action. I'm told most service roads have a "call" button near the access barriers.

 

[tim_battersby]

You shouldn't have a problem going in and out of the Frankley car park from the rear access. My understanding of the rules is that you're not allowed to use the rear access as a short cut to or from the motorway. If you go in and out of the rear access you should be fine.
I stayed overnight at Frankley recently (southbound). There is no barrier etc so you can just drive straight in (as I observed others doing). I think they use number plate recognition cameras these days.

 

[Paul]

I think as a general rule if you plan to use them then call ahead and if they approve take details of who approved and when. If it's an emergency charge situation, just be polite at the buzzer (if there is one) and hope for the best.

 

[Parax]

The Motorway services act says rear access are not legal entry exit points for the motorway network and hence should be controlled access not for customers/motorway users, this also applies to cross over bridges. They are provided as access points to the services only, not as entrances/exits from the motorway network. A services manager may allow discretionary access to cross the bridge as long as you return to your original side of the motorway.

more here: http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Rear_Access

 

[Kevin Sharpe]

Several people have been refused access across motorway bridges and I would suggest you leave yourself enough range to go the long way around.

Here's a recent example

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/451374090642022400

 

[Parax]

Thanks @Kevin Sharpe I knew I'd posted a useful link before.. it was this one https://www.gov.uk/government/speec...orways-and-all-purpose-trunk-roads-in-england

Specifically of interest in that case was the bridge rules:

Bridge or underpass connecting facilities on opposite sides of a motorway: Prohibited

 

[Paul]

It's really something that shouldn't be taken for granted at all.

Some of the services seem to have hotels and those are "outside" of the services. I guess they would be the easiest to get "backstage passes" for?

 

[flipper]

Thanks @Kevin Sharpe I knew I'd posted a useful link before.. it was this one https://www.gov.uk/government/speec...orways-and-all-purpose-trunk-roads-in-england

Specifically of interest in that case was the bridge rules:

Bridge or underpass connecting facilities on opposite sides of a motorway: Prohibited

That link seems to be specifically about Truckstops, not normal Services.

 

[Guesty]

In the end I had enough range to go straight to the office and then head south on the motorway to the next junction come back up and charge at frankley North, since I wanted to stay on the motorway I didn't want to abuse the option just to save a couple of minutes, but I would hope that if I didn't have the range to make it to the next junction I would be allowed 'over the bridge'

 

[Kevin Sharpe]

I would hope that if I didn't have the range to make it to the next junction I would be allowed 'over the bridge'

Don't ever count on it... people are being refused access.

 

[Guesty]

In that case I would call nissan recovery and ask them to take me to the other side

 

[knoxie]

The way that I had it explained to me was that it could be classed as a motoring offence because on some sites depending how the road and the access is provided you are technically driving against the flow of traffic, seems bizare I know but this is what one site manager told me, he advised me to go to the next exit and come back up which I did.

I would only enter if I was on my last legs and certainly would not make regular use of it, this nearly wouldnt ever be a problem if the poxy rapid chargers actually werent so overly complicated and unreliable.

 

[Jason Wallace]

You shouldn't have a problem going in and out of the Frankley car park from the rear access. My understanding of the rules is that you're not allowed to use the rear access as a short cut to or from the motorway. If you go in and out of the rear access you should be fine.
I stayed overnight at Frankley recently (southbound). There is no barrier etc so you can just drive straight in (as I observed others doing). I think they use number plate recognition cameras these days.

What's a good post code to use for Frankley rear access?