Roadside picnic sites in ‘timewarp’

By Jon Morgan

04th June 2010

Fight for your right to picnic! So says the RAC, which has launched a petition calling for the Government to increase the number and quality of open-air rest areas on Britain’s main roads.

Nearly two-thirds of 4,400 members polled by the motoring organisation complained that those roadside picnic areas in existence were unattractive and poorly maintained. In 2008, Government guidelines made it mandatory for new motorway services to provide picnic areas, while encouraging existing sites to invest in them. A recent Highways Agency survey found that of the 72 M-way service stations in England, more than 50 had free picnic sites.

However, the RAC has slammed UK facilities for lagging behind European counterparts. “There aren’t enough, and those there are aren’t kept in good order. We need more, and better, picnic facilities,” a spokesman said. “We’re not asking for something fancy, just somewhere clean and basic, off the road, with seating and space for kids to play.

“We appreciate the Government has looked into this, but it’s clear from our members’ perspective that not enough has been done.” The petition can be signed at www.picnicwithrac.com – which also lists top-rated picnic stops (right).