KFC has submitted a second planning application to turn a historic Ewell pub into a fast-food takeaway and restaurant.

At a meeting of Epsom Council’s planning committee in December, councillors voted to reject the original application by the fast food giant to turn the Organ and Dragon, which used to be a pub and Thai restaurant, in London Road, Ewell, into a KFC.

Councillors said development on the site, at the junction of London Road and Ewell bypass, 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 is currently appealing that decision to the Government’s planning inspectorate, but also submitted a second application to the council at the end of January in order to address the potential safety and traffic concerns raised by KFC’s previous application.

Elaine Jury, who led the residents’ petition, said: “We don’t think the change will make any difference.

"They have moved the entrance to the proposed KFC a few metres up London Road, but it’s still on that busy road, opposite the BP garage.

“The main issue is still the volume of cars going in and out.

"Surrey Highways hasn’t done its own survey of the road and is relying on KFC’s figures, and we don’t agree with those figures.

“We don’t object to KFC as a brand or as a restaurant, we just don’t want a takeaway on that busy road. It’s crazy.

“We’re still having meetings and we will be speaking again for three minutes at the planning meeting when it’s considered.”

A council spokesman said: “This is a new application and is being treated as such.

"Our understanding is the applicant believes it has addressed the issues that led to its previous application being rejected by the planning committee.

“The rejection of the previous application was made due to concerns about possible traffic implications of a fast food takeaway at the site.”

To view and comment on the planning application visit the council’s planning section on epsom-ewell.gov.uk.