A notorious crossing on the A1 would have to be closed before a coffee shop can be built by the southbound carriageway north of Grantham.

The moves comes as the planning committee of South Kesteven District council will once more discuss an application to build the drive-thru at the Toll Bar Service Station, Marston.

As previously reported by Nub News, SKDC's planning committee deferred a decision last month to clarify more points with Highways England.

The matter is now back on the agenda of the Wednesday August 5 meeting, with planning officers again recommending the scheme be approved.

But Coun Ian Stokes (Con-Peasecliffe & Ridgeway) has 'called in' the application from Motor Fuel Ltd due to his concerns over highway safety.

An officers' report prepared for the meeting said: "Part of the required highway safety mitigation works would involve closing the right-hand turn from the A1 into Toll Bar Road."

Parish councils in the area have expressed concern or opposition to the application.

Either the traffic using coffee shop would add to the danger of the junction, involving the 'gap' in the A1, which is often the scene of serious accidents.

Alternatively, closing the 'gap' would mean a detour of 5 miles for villagers in the area.

The Olde Barn Hotel at Marston says closing this gap would affect the viability of their business, which employs 85 staff and has 500 leisure club members.

SKDC public consultation received 17 letters of objection to the application, with three neutral and one in support.

They also raised the dangerous junction, but also said the coffee shop was not needed, citing nearby faclilities at Gonerby Moor.

However, the officer's report recommending approval.

It concluded: "The proposal would result in an additional roadside facility at the location of an existing petrol filling station adjacent to the A1.

"The highway safety mitigation works are considered by Highways England to result in an overall improvement to highway safety at this junction, without the need for any improvements to the slip-road."

"It is accepted there would be detrimental impacts associated with closing the right-hand turn in the A1 which would involve increased journey times and distances (8 km per trip) for motorists travelling from the south who wished to access their homes, businesses and services.

"The increased journey times would result in some detrimental impacts on the environment through increased fuel use and associated emissions."

The report continued: "These detrimental impacts are required to be balanced against the highway safety improvements that would result.

"It is difficult to quantify any economic impact or impact on Marston Primary School that would result from motorists having to take a longer journey to access businesses and services.

"Again, any potential detrimental impacts need to be weighed against the highway safety improvements for motorists accessing these services and businesses.

"Given Highways England have stated it is their intention to both close the gap in the A1 and improve the slip-road at this junction, significant weight has been afforded to the benefits of these improvements and less weight to the detrimental impacts on the basis it is considered likely that these improvements will be made at some stage in the future.

"Consideration has also been given to the extant permission (S17/2399) for the demolition and rebuilding of the forecourt shop/ sales building which does not include any highway