That isn't good enough?!

[19down]

I entered the Motorway services at 9pm
Because I needed to use the loo. I stopped at Birch services on the m62. This really isn't good enough to me, this is the sight I encountered, walking into the female toilets. A propped open door to the lorry park round the back of the service station. Propped open with a crate, I closed the door because frankly I didn't feel safe using the loo with that door open and I told the service station staff afterwards that I'd closed the door and they told me it was left open so people who park round the back of the service station don't have to walk round the building and can just nip into the Female toilet and go through there into the service station to access the service station facilities.

Aibu to expect men to walk round and not through the ladies toilets to access the gents/ Costa whatever ?

Blimey! Birch is one I sometimes use - that cavalier attitude to fire safety is off-putting.

The M62 could do with a couple more service stations - they have a captive audience, so they've got lazy.

I couldn't find a contact email for the manager of the services so I emailed the ceo of uss and moto service stations and got a massive email back from uss basically immediately which is crazy as it's a Saturday, but he's agreed with me that it's unacceptable and will be launching an investigation. I also reported it to the hse as it's a fire door.

Thanks for making me not think I was making a mountain out of a molehill

Well done you've kept people safe.

Well worth a complaint.

You've done the right thing.

Good stuff, OP.

@Arbadacarba

Blimey! Birch is one I sometimes use - that cavalier attitude to fire safety is off-putting.

The M62 could do with a couple more service stations - they have a captive audience, so they've got lazy.

Maybe there's no-one around who remembers, but you'd think they'd be more mindful than many about fire safety, seeing as one of the buildings burnt down some years ago:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3176744.stm

I also use Birch a lot (in normal times). I don't like it because (on the eastbound side) it's tatty and fucking miles from the car park to the Ladies toilet. Maybe I should just break in through the fire door instead .

Good on you fir complaining.

Not acceptable at all.

Dangerous fir the women and children in their. Who the hell thought it was a good idea? Sure the dads sending their 8/9 year old dds in there would be horrified too as they'd be waiting outside for them.

Besides having sat for hours in a truck cab surley a walk would do the lorry drivers some good?

it's tatty and fucking miles from the car park to the Ladies toilet.

Yes, it is - it's very grubby and rundown overall, really.

I'd forgotten that fire but I remember it now you mention it.

Fucking hell that is appaling! But although I am surprised by the latest variant the utter contempt for women's safety fails to shock.

Well done for complaining OP.

Wow.

So according to them, it’s acceptable for the ladies toilets to be a cut through for any lazy bastard? As well as all the fire safety aspects of course.

Well done for reporting it.

@19down

I couldn't find a contact email for the manager of the services so I emailed the ceo of uss and moto service stations and got a massive email back from uss basically immediately which is crazy as it's a Saturday, but he's agreed with me that it's unacceptable and will be launching an investigation. I also reported it to the hse as it's a fire door.

Well done 💐

From the photo that is a fire exit door which for fire safety reasons can be propped open not a fire compartmentilisation door which stops spread of fire and can't. And fire safety is enforced by the local fire brigade not the HSE.

@19down

I couldn't find a contact email for the manager of the services so I emailed the ceo of uss and moto service stations and got a massive email back from uss basically immediately which is crazy as it's a Saturday, but he's agreed with me that it's unacceptable and will be launching an investigation. I also reported it to the hse as it's a fire door.

wow that's impressive - well done OP!

Glad you complained and you have already had a response. I am glad I read this as when my daughter is old enough to start using toilets alone I will make sure to always give the them a quick look in. You really dont know what you might find!

Good work, OP, and kudos to the CEO of USS for responding quickly and reassuring you that this problem won’t be kicked into the long grass.

I'd personally try and report it to a local newspaper in the area. I think they'd be very interested in women being put at risk with all the concern going on at the moment. And hopefully the paper would have a Facebook page to reach a wider audience. I'd hope they would be told how wrong they are by a lot of people, not just letting it be hushed up in house by the management.

They do this there all the time. I am a regular visitor and it happens a lot!
I have raised it many times

www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lignum-285017130?originalSubdomain=uk

Here you go, OP: the site manager at Birch services. I am outraged on your behalf. Even more so now that I’ve read, above, that this happens regularly.

@Iamthewombat thank you!

I was at the Moto services on M4 Eastbound at Reading today and same thing! Ladies fire door propped open. Couldn't stop to ask at the time but am going to email them now to query it.

That is shocking. How many dads would send their daughters in their on their own!

[email protected]

If anyone else wishes to email him this was the email I received from the ceo of moto.

The chief customer officer sent me this today which wasn't great so I'm going to email him back tomorrow it's a bit generic

Thank you for taking the time to make contact and tell us about your concerns for your safety and security during a recent visit to our Birch Services.

As Ken has said the health and safety of everyone on our sites is of paramount importance to us. We pride ourselves on our track record; however we never rest on our laurels and so remain focused on the experience we offer to each and every customer.

I have personally shared what’s happened with Julie Sturgess who manages our sites in the North of England. Julie has spoken to the local management team and all of the partners who work at that particular location to ensure everyone is clear that these doors need to remain closed at all times. We have also sent communications to all our sites about this incident.

We want all visitors to our sites to feel safe and secure. If this isn’t the case I want to be confident that concerns are raised quickly and easily. Our goal is that these are always dealt with urgency and high integrity by the site and that the individual feels immediately supported and certain of our actions. Clearly on this occasion we did not deliver the standards expected and I can only offer my sincere apologies. I am very grateful you have taken the time to express your concerns to allow us to learn and reinforce the significance of this matter.

Yours Sincerely
Nick

Sent from my iPad

Pay peanuts eh, Ken?

Well done, OP.