Residents believe Canterbury Cathedral is being treated like a private school’s “playground” - as they are set to be banned from using a historic entrance into the landmark’s grounds.

For years people have accessed the Cathedral’s precincts through Queningate, which is cut into the city wall in Lower Bridge Street.

But its use will be restricted almost exclusively to pupils and staff from King’s School, which has classrooms within the precincts, once work on it has been completed.

The ban on residents will be enforced to make it safer for pupils at the £41,000-a-year school to walk to and from class.

But Sean Sayers, of Havelock Street, says the decision has stripped “a bit of the city’s history from people” - with locals only allowed to access the precincts through its main gate, Christchurch.

“I’ve always gone in through [Queningate], walked through the precincts and into the centre of town,” the 79-year-old said.

“It’s a lovely, safe, peaceful, beautiful way of going into town - why shouldn’t I be able to do so?

“They’re effectively treating the precincts as if it were King’s School premises, like it’s the school’s private playground.

“People are very angry. It’s taking another bit of Canterbury’s history from the people.”

Queningate is thought to have been built into the city walls in 270AD. Of the five original gates into the Roman city, it is the only one that remains today.

Because of its historical significance, Mr Sayers thinks the Cathedral should not be able to limit access to the gate.

“Surely the Cathedral and the King’s School have some responsibility to the community,” the pensioner continued.

“I believe local residents have a customary right to use Queningate and other gates for access to the precincts, established by centuries of constant and continuous usage.”

But Cathedral bosses disagree, stressing the precincts are private property and may be managed accordingly.

They say the changes have been made in the interest of the security of King’s children.

A Cathedral spokesman explained: “No school in the UK allows unmanaged public access to their site.

“We have received complaints from a local resident who believes he is entitled to use Queningate and the precincts as a shortcut from his house to the city centre.

“We have explained to him this is not true.

"There is not, and never has been, a public right of way or right of access to the Cathedral precincts – or a right to use specific gates.

"We want to reassure all our precinct pass-holders that they are free to enjoy the Cathedral’s public spaces during opening hours as frequently as they want. They just need to enter and exit via the main Christchurch Gate."

Queningate has been closed for work to be carried out on it over the last month.

Residents with precinct passes will continue to have free access to the site through Christchurch.

There also remains free access to all comers to services at the Cathedral.

Responding to the concerns, King’s School added: “The safeguarding and protection of our children is our highest priority.

“We work closely with the Dean and Chapter who are responsible for all aspects of access into the precincts.”