New A17 fuelling station passed at the Anglia Motel in Fleet Hargate

The owner of a well-known motel is hoping to create a new fuelling station on the A17 within the next two years after being given the thumbs up by planners.

Harold Payne has been granted planning permission to construct a new HGV fuelling station and electric vehicle charging points on land at the Anglia Motel in Washway Road, Fleet Hargate, by South Holland District Council.

Mr Payne, who has built up a solid trade along the A17 for the last six decades, sees this as the next stage to develop the site to benefit the truck drivers who are parking up at the motel.

He has also submitted a planning application to the district council to replace cabins with a new motel accommodation.

Mr Payne said: “We need this extra service as we have up to 50 lorries park up on a night so they need the services. We have already put up facilities and showers for them so this would be the next stage.

“It will be an asset for the area and for the HGV drivers who travel along the A17. It is going to take a while to get sorted but I am hoping to have it done within 18 months to two years.”

Mr Payne has been given the go-ahead to build two fuelling stations along with four 30,000 litre underground storage tanks on an area of land which is currently used for parking.

The pumps will be unmanned with payment taken via credit car readers.

Charging points for electric vehicles are also included within the application.

The Environment Agency was one of the consultees on the application. It stated that it did not have any objection to the plan ‘provided there are no further additions such as a service kiosk, weather canopy or similar’.

Concerns had been raised about traffic, noise, light pollution and the ‘risk of explosions’ by members of the public.

The decision report states: “Concerns have been raised on highway safety grounds. However, LCC highways have been consulted and have indicated that the facility has good quality access and egress arrangements for vehicles to get safely off and back onto the highway. No changes are to be made to the existing arrangements.”

It goes onto states: “The proposal is sustainable and would bring community and economic benefits. It would not materially harm the character of appearance of the locality or amenity of nearby residents subject to mitigating conditions.”