Overview

Located on the A74(M), this was one of several stops on our adventure down south. Featuring a Days Inn hotel, a McDonald’s, a Costa Coffee and a Changing Places toilet, it’s as good a place to stop as any. There are plenty of places to sit, several EV chargers and a small number of accessible parking spaces. As for the red cord in the Changing Places toilet, I can confirm that it absolutely works. How do I know this? Well, I might just have managed to get the cord caught on my wheelchair on the way out. At least I found out how efficient the facilities staff are!

Transport & Parking

As a service station, the main and likely only real route to this location is by car. I counted 12 EV spaces but the information online seems to vary. There are four remaining accessible parking spaces next to the chargers, with a further three located close to the Days Inn - although these are likely only for the hotel. The four accessible parking spaces mentioned above are not near dropped kerbs.

Access

Toilets

There is an accessible toilet and a Changing Places toilet at this location, which requires a RADAR key to enter via the outward opening door. Inside the room, you'll find a ceiling track hoist, an adjustable change bed and a large paper sheet dispenser for use with the bed. The toilet is on the rear wall and features a contrasting toilet seat and contrasting grab rails on both sides. There is space for both a left-side and right-side transfer, but there are bins on both sides, which is frustrating. The room also features an adjustable sink with a deep basin and a single grab rail on the right - where you'll also find the button to operate the mechanism. There is a Euan’s Guide red cord card installed on the emergency cord, which is on the right when seated on the toilet and hangs to the floor. I didn't see a cord at the door or a colostomy shelf. Framed awards outside advise that this toilet won Changing Places Toilet of the Year in 2024, which makes me wonder how this is assessed, and whether staff are given prior notice of a visit. The bins in the transfer space and the lack of a colostomy shelf are where I would deduct points.

Staff

I had limited interaction with staff, but the haste with which they attended when I pulled the emergency cord by mistake was impressive. They understood it was an accident rather than tell me off for it - which I appreciate. I've been in places with staff who are eager to set people right, and it's nice to not have that additional stress.

Photos