AN inspector has visited the site of a proposed fast-food restaurant – but had to view it from the road after concrete blocks stopped access to the land.

Last year councillors rejected the bid for a drive-thru KFC on land at Ipswich Road, Colchester, amid concerns it was too close to an historic cottage and a Premier Inn hotel.

This was despite planners at Tendring Council, the site’s local authority, recommending it should be approved.

KFC appealed against the decision to refuse permission and has now called on a Government planning inspector to approve the bid saying it has “robustly demonstrated” its merits.

The inspector visited the site but in a letter to Tendring Council it was revealed she had been unable to gain access to the site.

It said: “Notwithstanding the comments from the agent, the inspector was unable to move any of the panels/concrete blocks to gain access to the site.

“Nevertheless she felt she was able to sufficiently assess the site from the public realm.”

The fast-food giant has spent more than five years – and two planning applications – battling to get the drive-thru given the green light.

Plans for the scheme previously went undetermined by Tendring Council in 2013 and were subsequently thrown out by an inspector.

The final decision will be made by a planning inspector by written representations, at the request of KFC.