Birch Services
| Birch Services | |
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The modern westbound services
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 Birch Services (Greater Manchester)
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| Information | |
| County: | Greater Manchester |
| Road: | M62 |
| Coordinates: | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Operator: | Moto |
| Date opened: | 1972 |
| Website: | www |
Birch Service station is a motorway service station located on the M62 motorway between Junction 18 (M60) and Junction 19 Heywood, close to Rochdale and Bury. There are two sides to the service station, the Eastbound services being quite old and the Westbound services being more modern. The services opened in 1972.[citation needed]
In September 1989 the services were the location for the murder of Inspector Raymond Codling of the Greater Manchester Police. There is a memorial on the westbound side.
Facilities
The services facilities include Burger King, Krispy Kreme, Costa Coffee, Marks and Spencer, WHSmith and a Travelodge hotel.
2003 fire
The westbound amenity building was destroyed in a massive fire on 9 October 2003. After losing large sums of cash in a slot machine, Jason New started kicking it to get his money back. He then went to the shop and bought a lighter, promptly setting fire to the machine. By 1am, the whole westbound side of the services were alight and evacuated. It took 70 fire-fighters four hours to bring the blaze under control.[1][2]
Rebuilding
Whilst the site was being rebuilt, temporary facilities were provided. The petrol station, motel and eastbound services were not affected but were evacuated for safety reasons. The new services cater for 242 cars, 120 lorries and 30 coaches. When it was opened, Moto described the new building as being "the most modern on the motorway network".[3]
Location
- Oldham 5.4 miles (8.7 km) M60, M62, (A627(M))
- Rochdale 7 miles (11 km) M60, M62, (A627(M))
- Manchester 7.8 miles (12.6 km) M60, (M56)
- Warrington 21.8 miles (35.1 km) M60, (M62)
- Liverpool 37.8 miles (60.8 km) M60, (M62)
- Sheffield 38 miles (61 km) M60, (M67)
- Birmingham 70 miles (110 km) M60, (M56), (M6)
- Leeds 30 miles (48 km) M60, M62, (M1), (M621)
- Bolton 15 miles (24 km) M60, (M61)
