Motorway Services Online

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Kingdom: Difference between revisions

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{{Gallery
{{Services
|image   = Kingdom petrol station.jpg
|type = closed
|size    = 250 }}
|image = Kingdom petrol station.jpg
Junction 3 of the M90 is a fairly normal roundabout junction, but to the south-east two sliproads cut the corner between the motorway and the A92. This creates a small wedge of land sandwiched between motorways, and this particular bit of land hold a wannabe service area with so much history that it now has a namesake drama series. Who'd have though it?
|road = A92 at Crossgates Roundabout
|address = Crossgates Road{{newline}}Halbeath{{newline}}Fife
|postcode = KY11 7EG
|prevop = [[BP]], [[Shell]]
|opened =
|closed =
|briefroad = A92 near M90 J3
|stype = Single site located at a junction
|coords = 56.082690, -3.3904651
}}


Before we go any further, if all this talk about triangles and shortcuts has you confused then you might want to take a look at [https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=56.08410,-3.38676&map=OSMMap&zoom=14&layer=0&markers=56.08264,-3.39066, this map]
'''Kingdom services''', its name referring to the Kingdom of Fife, is still signposted from the Crossgates Roundabout. That's despite the site having been turned into an ordinary industrial estate. More interestingly, it once dreamed of being a proper service area.


==The Birth of a Kingdom==
The little A907 between Halbeath and Crossgates gained a new lease of life in 1985, when it was replaced by the new A92. The plan had always been to complete the job with the new junction on the M90, and this happened in 1998, creating a triangle of land that was marooned by major roads in all directions.
The fact that this junction is home to the point where lots of traffic heads off towards East Fife made it the perfect site for a service station, after all it would save building individual service stations on the M90 and A92.


So, in 1998 the plans were put through for '''Kingdom services''' (Kingdom referring to the Kingdom of Fife), sitting in that very slice of land with traffic heading around it in all directions. The services consisted of a single building with the petrol forecourt on one side and service station on the other, very similar to the likes of [[Derby and Burton]] and [[Leicester]] today. This isn't the first time a service station has been built in the middle of a junction either, as the nearby [[Stirling services]] demonstrates.
Running through that triangle was the original A907, and it was inevitable that this would be developed for industrial purposes. Front and centre of that vision was the plan for 'Kingdom services', put through in 1998.


It was built by [[BP]] and offered a [[Spar]] shop, alongside a [[Wimpy]] and self-service restaurant. So far it looks like the services were a guaranteed recipe for success, but hang on, because as with all good tragedies this one has a sad bit.
It consisted of a single building with the petrol forecourt on one side and service station on the other, very similar to the likes of [[Derby and Burton|Derby & Buton]] and [[Leicester]] today. This wasn't the first time a service station has been built in a major road island either, as the nearby [[Stirling services]] demonstrates.


==It All Went Wrong==
The service area was built by [[BP]] and offered a [[SPAR]] shop, alongside a [[Wimpy]] and self-service restaurant. A large lorry park was provided for HGVs.
[[File:Kingdom lorry park.jpg|250px|right|The lorry park.|alt=Kingdom lorry park.]]
Don't be taken in by the bright lights and green windows, as there were quite a few problems with this service area. The first is that it wasn't all that far from [[Kinross]], and as Granada got there first it was decided that Kingdom shouldn't be signed from the motorway. This decision created a bit of fuss and made it to the national press, but that wasn't good enough to make the government change their mind.


It was agreed that the services could be signed from the A92 and Kingdom had another trick up its sleeve: the services backed on to the A92-M90 link road anyway, so all they had to do was stick up a couple of BP signs and they had their own advertisement.
==Signage Problems==
As [[Kinross|Kinross services]] had already opened on the M90, it was decided that the new Kingdom would not qualify for signage on the motorway. This decision created a fuss and made it to the national press, but the authorities stood by their position.


Well, not quite. At the eastern part of the triangle - where the entrance to the services is - traffic cannot head to or from the M90 south, as until the services were built there was absolutely no need for that movement. This meant that once traffic had seen the BP sign it was too late for them to get there, unless they fancied a 15-mile detour without any signs to guide them. Kingdom could be accessed from the M90, but only via the north-western corner of the triangle, and as there were no signs for the services from here only those who were 'in the know' could get there.
It was agreed that the service area could still be signed from the A92, but this would only cover one of the main approaches. Large adverts were placed at the back of the forecourt which backed on to the slip road leaving the M90, but this information was no good to motorists who would have already missed the exit for the service areas.


However, most people who were 'in the know' would probably know somewhere to take a break which didn't require navigating two large roundabouts before you could get there. So, by the early millennium, all of this had taken such a strain on Kingdom that it was consigned to the history books and closed.
This incarnation of Kingdom closed in the early 2000s, as it was too difficult to access and had been used mainly as a parking area by HGV drivers who knew all the roads.


==A Glimmer of Hope==
==Return of Kingdom==
[[File:Kingdom Shell sign.jpg|250px|right|Traffic hurtles past the services.|alt=The motorway and Shell sign.]]
[[File:Kingdom Shell sign.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Traffic passes the adverts, with no opportunity to stop.|alt=The motorway and Shell sign.]]
For a short while the services opened again, but in the form of Peggy Sue's American Diner. The advantage here is that whoever planned it knew about the motorway problems and aimed the Diner at local residents and passers-by. It wasn't that much of a success though, as by 2004 it had gone.
For a short while the service area did open again, but in the form of Peggy Sue's American Diner. This was marketed more at local visitors who were less worried about the detour from the motorway, but it closed in 2004.


In 2006, [[Shell]] decided that it must be third time lucky, and that they could do a better job. In fact, they re-opened the petrol station - still called Kingdom services - and even replaced the sign backing on to the sliproad with their very own. The new filling station also had a Nisa Shop, and Shell too had hopes for this service station, hopes which weren't all marketed at drivers.
In 2006 [[Shell]] decided that it must be third time lucky, and that they could make Kingdom work. They reopened the petrol station and replaced the advert backing on to the slip road with their own. The new filling station also had a [[Nisa Local]], and Shell had a new idea to make things work.


You see, the half of the building which acted as the service station was this time opened as the Kingdom of Fun, a children's activity centre. The new Kingdom has been separated from the filling station, creating two distinctively different facilities under one roof.
The half of the building which had previously acted as the service station was this time opened as the Kingdom of Fun, a children's activity centre. The new Kingdom was separated from the filling station, creating two distinctively different facilities under one roof. Both were advertised from the Crossgates Roundabout.


The services also included a lorry park at the back, which has existed at the site since BP, but was forgotten about with the demise of Kingdom services. An industrial estate also exists on the same corner of land.
===Packing It In===
The Shell station didn't last so long, and closed in 2008. It opened as an independent "Kingdom Services" branded site, still with the soft play area attached. This soldiered on for another five years, until finally in 2013 it closed and the whole area was demolished. Meanwhile, the rest of the road has been developed into a busy industrial estate, and lorries continue to take breaks here.  


==Third Time not so Lucky==
As of {{current|2020}}, the site of the service area is now a depot for Fife Council. It is still signed from the roundabout, but no further trace of the service area exists.
The Shell station didn't last so long, closing in 2008. However, all was not lost for the petrol station - it opened as an independent "Kingdom Services" branded site, still with the soft play area attached. This soldiered on for another 5(?) years, until finally in 2013(?) it closed and the whole area was demolished, with no hope for a future petrol station here. A wild ride indeed!


A Google Street View car pictured the site in 2009 (twice) and 2014 on [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.08315,-3.390682,3a,75y,156.81h,78.18t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1se0w4N2jgyljvXA3Baf40cA!2e0!5s20090501T000000!7i13312!8i6656 the site] and in 2008, 2009 (twice), 2012 and 2014 [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.081047,-3.39044,3a,75y,18.16h,81.41t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1syS1S3Kv_dSCDj2syEKMdZQ!2e0!5s20080901T000000!7i13312!8i6656 from the road], showing the stages of change in those years.
{{Map|type=embed|lat1=56.082690|lon1=-3.3904651|gridref=NT135886|class=closed}}
 
[[Category:A92]]
Interestingly, signs for "Services" were placed on the A92 directed at Kingdom in 2014 - just after the entire site had been flattened! A nearby bus stop is still called 'Kingdom services'.
 
There you have it - over 15 years ago there were high hopes for this building, but disappointment soon settled in and created something totally different. Since then the rules for motorway services have been relaxed and Kingdom could have quite easily gained signs from the motorway, had the opportunity been seized.
 
[[Category:Features]][[Category:UK only]][[Category:Closed Services]]

Latest revision as of 21:03, 5 February 2024

Kingdom
(former)
Kingdom services
Camera icon
Camera icon
11 more photos in the gallery
Road:A92 at Crossgates Roundabout
Address:Crossgates Road
Halbeath
Fife
KY11 7EG
Services type:Single site located at a junction

Kingdom services, its name referring to the Kingdom of Fife, is still signposted from the Crossgates Roundabout. That's despite the site having been turned into an ordinary industrial estate. More interestingly, it once dreamed of being a proper service area.

The little A907 between Halbeath and Crossgates gained a new lease of life in 1985, when it was replaced by the new A92. The plan had always been to complete the job with the new junction on the M90, and this happened in 1998, creating a triangle of land that was marooned by major roads in all directions.

Running through that triangle was the original A907, and it was inevitable that this would be developed for industrial purposes. Front and centre of that vision was the plan for 'Kingdom services', put through in 1998.

It consisted of a single building with the petrol forecourt on one side and service station on the other, very similar to the likes of Derby & Buton and Leicester today. This wasn't the first time a service station has been built in a major road island either, as the nearby Stirling services demonstrates.

The service area was built by BP and offered a SPAR shop, alongside a Wimpy and self-service restaurant. A large lorry park was provided for HGVs.

Signage Problems

As Kinross services had already opened on the M90, it was decided that the new Kingdom would not qualify for signage on the motorway. This decision created a fuss and made it to the national press, but the authorities stood by their position.

It was agreed that the service area could still be signed from the A92, but this would only cover one of the main approaches. Large adverts were placed at the back of the forecourt which backed on to the slip road leaving the M90, but this information was no good to motorists who would have already missed the exit for the service areas.

This incarnation of Kingdom closed in the early 2000s, as it was too difficult to access and had been used mainly as a parking area by HGV drivers who knew all the roads.

Return of Kingdom

The motorway and Shell sign.
Traffic passes the adverts, with no opportunity to stop.

For a short while the service area did open again, but in the form of Peggy Sue's American Diner. This was marketed more at local visitors who were less worried about the detour from the motorway, but it closed in 2004.

In 2006 Shell decided that it must be third time lucky, and that they could make Kingdom work. They reopened the petrol station and replaced the advert backing on to the slip road with their own. The new filling station also had a Nisa Local, and Shell had a new idea to make things work.

The half of the building which had previously acted as the service station was this time opened as the Kingdom of Fun, a children's activity centre. The new Kingdom was separated from the filling station, creating two distinctively different facilities under one roof. Both were advertised from the Crossgates Roundabout.

Packing It In

The Shell station didn't last so long, and closed in 2008. It opened as an independent "Kingdom Services" branded site, still with the soft play area attached. This soldiered on for another five years, until finally in 2013 it closed and the whole area was demolished. Meanwhile, the rest of the road has been developed into a busy industrial estate, and lorries continue to take breaks here.

As of 2020, the site of the service area is now a depot for Fife Council. It is still signed from the roundabout, but no further trace of the service area exists.

Area Map

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Leaflet

🗺 Grid reference: NT135886 | See GeoHack for modern layers