THERE is a simple way to see a significant improvement in motorway service stations. Many stations comprise a pair of sites, separated by a footbridge crossing the carriageway. If the decision were taken that in such cases the two sites should be let to different operators, people could vote with their feet.

Meanwhile, I keep a set of maps issued by the major supermarket chains, listing the locations of their petrol stations and restaurants. These are often sited within a mile or two of the motorway and provide all the services I could want, at much lower prices.

Chris Torrero, Chessington, Surrey

We’re an embarrassment

I AM not surprised that food at German service areas is much better than in the UK. I used to visit Germany regularly and my German business contacts took me to many different, places from small hostelries to expensive restaurants. I never had a bad meal. At the Cologne Exhibition Centre I found the food to be excellent, and as in the other eating places, it was much cheaper than any in the UK. I was embarrassed when the Germans came to the National Exhibition Centre: the food and the general standard of the restaurants, including cleanliness and service, were terrible.

Every week we have hours of television food programmes. Doesn’t anybody watch them?

Peter A. Rushforth, Bradford

Rip-off rashers

MY WORST is the service station just short of the Channel Tunnel, where I was charged 99p for one mushroom and a further 99p for one rasher of bacon — cold at that, and disgusting coffee made, I was advised, from a syrup, although the machine gave the impression that it was freshly made from beans.

Janette South, Chelsfield, Kent

Highs and lows

THE best: Welcome Break (Reading M4 and Oxford M40); the worst: all RoadChefs, which are dreadful, expensive and poor quality. Clackets Lane stands out in my mind as particularly awful.

Francis Pole, Crawley, West Sussex

Keep on driving

LAST year I visited the service station mentioned in the article, Vogtland South in eastern Germany, and have to agree that it is the best service station I have ever been to. I didn’t want to leave: it was really clean, bright, new and with a fantastic selection of great food.

Why can’t we do this? Why are our service stations so awful? They are depressing places to stop at; usually the sort of places you try to avoid.

Ed Truax, Eigeig8@aol.com