West Wellow services
A36 at Ower Roundabout
(also accessible to traffic on the A3090)
Signposted from the road.
SO51 6GF
map and directions
Single site located at a junction.
A small service area on a roundabout close to M27 J2.
Facilities
Catering: McDonald's Drive Thru Outdoor Space: Picnic area next to McDonald's; Children's Play Area; public footpath connections Forecourt: Esso, Shop'N Drive, Costa Express, West Cornwall Pasty Co., LPG (FloGas), Jet Wash, Free Cash Machine
Parking Prices
Use of the forecourt and car parking on the forecourt is limited to 20 minutes maximum stay from entry to exit, whilst HGV parking is limited to 60 minutes maximum stay. Both of these restrictions are strictly enforced by Horizon Parking.
Parking within the McDonald's car park is limited to 90 minutes maximum stay and is strictly enforced by ParkingEye.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
West Wellow Service Area
Romsey Road
Ower
Romsey
Hampshire
SO51 6GF
Trivia and History
Planning permission was sought by the family who ran Barton Stacey services; they then sold the majority of the land to developers in 1990. It was initially known as Ower services.
The period that this service area was developed was a period of change for this reason. The dual carriageway to the south had just been downgraded from a motorway, which would have prevented any 'Services' signs being placed on that approach. The A31 still crossed this roundabout, although it was no longer an important road. In 1989, it was announced that the A36 would be upgraded to form a major cross- -country link. Most importantly, the roadside restaurant, hotel and fuelling industries were all very competitive, with many chains seeking to expand.
The service area was built on a long driveway with Shelley Nursery and some associated bungalows at the far end. Those bungalows can now only be accessed by driving through the service area. There was an additional house by the roundabout which had to be demolished.
Proposals
EG Nash & Partners are the first developer in the records. They were only focused on building a Texaco forecourt, but they wanted it to be part of a "comprehensive TRSA" and published a number of indicative layouts showing a motorists' restaurant and several parking areas.
Their plans showed the possibility of building a restaurant to the west, north or east. One of these, which may have been published prematurely, named the restaurant as an 80-seat Little Chef. This one included space for a Travelodge too. The plans also included a landscaped picnic area at the eastern end, by the River Blackwater, which was provided but quickly became overgrown and is now abandoned.
Developments
Not long after the petrol station had opened, in 1993 the restaurant partner was announced as McDonald's. Their restaurant opened shortly after.
There was another attempt to build a Travelodge here in 1998 on the unused land at the western end of the site, but this was unable to secure planning permission.
The Star Market forecourt shop became a Somerfield, and then Co-op Food. The supermarkets wanted it known as 'West Wellow services'.
The petrol station was sold to Rontec in November 2019 and rebranded Esso, with the convenience store becoming Shop'N Drive.
McDonald's currently hold planning permission to add an InstaVolt electric vehicle charger to their car park whilst Rontec also hold planning permission to add an eight bay EV charging hub and eight new parking bays next to the existing staff car park to the west of the forecourt.
Alternatives
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| Warminster (40 miles) | Services on the A36 | Rownhams (M27 east, 5 miles) |