KFC has lost an appeal to the Government’s planning inspectorate to turn a historic Ewell pub into a fast-food restaurant and takeaway.

At a meeting of Epsom Council’s planning committee on December 6, councillors voted to reject an application by the fast-food giant to turn the Organ and Dragon, which was a pub and Thai restaurant, into a KFC.

The majority said development on the site, at the junction of London Road and Ewell By-Pass, would have "an adverse impact on the highway’s safety" - to the delight of residents who presented a 1,000-signature petition to the council opposing the plans.

KFC appealed the refusal to the Government’s planning inspectorate, with an inquiry held into the decision at Epsom and Ewell town hall in May.

But the planning inspector who conducted the inquiry, Mrs A Fairclough, agreed with the councillors’ original decision.

In a report on the inquiry published yesterday, she stated: “Although I have concluded that the visibility of the proposed access and the impact on neighbours’ living conditions would be acceptable, I consider that the impact of the appeal scheme on the free flow of traffic and highway safety including parking and access by service vehicles would be severe.

“It would have a seriously adverse impact on the safety and efficiency of London Road
and the Ewell Bypass in this location.”

A second planning application submitted to Epsom Council by KFC for the same project, which aimed to address highway safety concerns by repositioning the site's existing entrance further along London Road, was also rejected by councillors in March.

What do you think about the decision?  Contact Hardeep Matharu on the newsdesk on 020 8722 6346, email hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk, or leave a comment below.

 

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