County: West Yorkshire Date opened: 1973 Road M62 motorway | Previous operator(s): Ross Website: Welcome Break Operator Welcome Break | |
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Similar Newport Pagnell services, Burton‑in‑Kendal Services, Doncaster North services, Charnock Richard Services, Michaelwood services | ||
Hartshead Moor services is a motorway service station on the M62 near Bradford, West Yorkshire. It is the highest service station in the United Kingdom.
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1974 coach bombing
On 4 February 1974 a bomb was detonated on a coach ferrying British Army and Royal Air Force personnel from and to the bases at Catterick and Darlington during a period of industrial strike action on the trains. The incident occurred shortly after midnight while most of those aboard were sleeping. Twelve people were killed and more than fifty injured.
A memorial plaque was installed in memory of those who were killed, situated in the entrance hall of the westbound section of the service area, which was used as a first aid station for those wounded in the blast. A memorial service was held at the service area in February 2004. In 2009 a new memorial was created outside the service area at the wishes of the relatives of those killed.
Incidents
In December 2005 the RSPCA, working with the BBC filmed the sale of an African puff adder at the service area, exploiting a legal loophole to sell on the snake. It was discovered in April 2006 that the service area's toilets were frequently being used for homosexual activity.
Alpine Cleaning Services, who successfully pitched for investment on the television show, Dragons' Den, opened one of their first truck-washing facilities at the service area in August 2006.
Mural
The service station is one of fourteen for which large murals were commissioned from artist David Fisher in the 1990s, designed to reflect the local area and history.
Location
The services are located between junctions 25 and 26 of the M62.