Park-goers will be unable to enjoy a city centre beauty spot’s sprawling green space for nine months as a multi-million-pound revamp gets underway.

Contractors will start closing off all the lawned areas of Dane John Gardens in Canterbury, which will remain out of bounds until December.

The path around the edge of the gardens will stay open so people can get from one end to the other, along with the public toilets.

But the majority of the area – a popular location for relaxing at the height of summer – will be shut for nine months as part of the city’s £22 million Levelling Up fund.

This week, the Gazette spoke to park users about the planned closure.

Arimita Bose uses the Dane John every day and describes it as a “nice place to sit down and chill out”.

“That sucks, man,” the 35-year-old said when our reporter informed her of the closure. “This will ruin my year. Where am I supposed to be reading now?”

College student Tianna Grant says she goes to the park every time she visits Canterbury.

The 16-year-old also believes the work should have been carried out during the winter and not the summer.

“I think it will be a big disappointment for a lot of people as they come here to relax,” she said.

“The city centre is very urban, so here it is different and relaxing.”

Canterbury resident Kay Kibala uses the spot to relax when the weather is warmer.

“It would have been nicer if they had got some of this work done during the colder months, but maybe they had their reasons,” the 37-year-old said.

“It will be disappointing not to use the park, but there are a few other green spaces around Canterbury which are fortunately available.”

Access will be maintained via the path around the edge of the gardens, which runs close to homes.

The children’s play area will remain accessible via the mound from the city wall.

The path from Watling Street to the Don Juan cafe will be open, but the central walkway beyond it will be shut, and people will be diverted via the footway which runs along the houses in the Gardens.

Head of digital, data and improvement Caroline Marlow at the city council has defended closing the area during the summer months.

"Of course, if we had a magic wand, we would carry out the work when the fewest people take advantage of the Dane John and it causes the least amount of disruption.

"But a combination of factors makes this impossible.”

She adds dry weather means less damage to the landscape, lawns and tree roots from vehicles and workers churning up the ground.

It will also keep the site clearer of mud and will be less likely any holes dug for cables for lighting, drainage channels, and new flower beds will fill up with water.

Ms Marlow also says it is less likely water erosion will impact sensitive areas, such as the Dane John Mound and the banks of the city wall.

"On top of all that, this is a 10-month programme, so there is no way of avoiding the summer,” she added.

“Plus, we have to meet the government's deadline for spending such a substantial amount of money."

Meanwhile, the council is in discussions with the owner of the Don Juan cafe about the disruption set to be caused.

The council argues the current cafe is outdated and coming to the end of its life, so it will be demolished as part of the scheme.

It will be replaced with a new building in a similar style to the current one.

Ms Marlow added: “If you dig anywhere in Canterbury, you are bound to find important historical artefacts which means the contractor may need to move its workforce at short notice.

“We hope reopening in December is a worst-case scenario and if we can make things happen faster, we will.”

The ambitious £22 million Levelling Up fund is designed to boost the city’s infrastructure and draw in the crowds.

Elsewhere, the Castle Row car park was shut for about 10 months on Monday as part of the council’s works.

Last month, there were fears motorists face a year of gridlock misery as regeneration work begins around the city’s historic Westgate Towers.

Roads surrounding the Grade I-listed landmark will be shut off at various points over the 12 months from April as part of a £1.5 million project to transform the area.

Pavements and street surfaces will be ripped up and replaced to create a continental-style square closed to traffic a handful of times a year for events such as the Medieval Pageant and the Christmas lights parade.

These two schemes are both part of the Levelling Up fund.