A popular playing field controversially earmarked for a new school by Kent County Council has been shut off in a move it claims is to protect the public from potential attackers “hiding in bushes”.

Padlocks have appeared on gates to the tree-lined park in Church Street, Whitstable, which has been enjoyed by the public for generations.

KCC argues it has been forced to chain off the field on safety grounds, but the excuse has been branded “ridiculous” by outraged residents.

One of the authority’s members has even questioned the motive behind the move, as it comes amid attempts by locals to block the development of one of the town’s few green spaces.

There was no official notice or consultation before the field was locked up, but KCC says it took action “to avoid the possibility of a member of the public walking through the site and being subject to an assault”.

Cllr Rob Thomas, who represents the area for the county council, says the move is a cynical “slap in the face”, revealing he was also blindsided by the decision.

It comes as residents continue to fight KCC’s bid to build a new 120-place Whitstable Free School for children with special educational needs on the site.

Many oppose the plans, arguing the field is a priceless community resource and that, while a new school is needed, there are other places it could be constructed.

As part of the Friends of Church Street Playing Field group, they have even petitioned KCC itself to grant the park ‘village green status’ which, in effect, would prevent building on the land.

Cllr Thomas believes the authority’s decision to chain the field’s main gates is an underhand manoeuvre in reaction to this.

“I think the county council is doing their utmost to demonstrate that the field isn’t being used,” said the Conservative.

“The locking of the gates without any consultation with me or the local community is a massive slap in the face.

“For decades and decades, the public have had unfettered access to use the field as a recreational space, now KCC is just going to close it off under the pretence that people are hiding in bushes? It’s ridiculous.”

In an email, the local authority claims the decision has been taken in the interest of public safety.

But users of the field say they have never felt in any danger and KentOnline understands Kent Police was not consulted on the move to shut off the field's two main entrances.

In the email, KCC wrote: “With the darker evenings now setting in, our surveyors wish to avoid the possibility of a member of the public walking through the site and being subject to an assault (or similar).

“There are a number of bushes and tree screens around the site within which an assailant could easily hide, indeed they have seen the remnants of a tent on site.

“The council have the right to lock up the site as this accords with common law and the right for any landowner to secure their property against trespassers.”

Friends of Church Street Playing Field member David Hartburn says his children play ball games in the field and that he sometimes uses the space for astronomy.

“I’ve been there in the dark myself with expensive equipment and never felt at risk,” said the 47-year-old.

“You get foxes, the occasional owl, but I’ve never seen anyone who might attack me - that is why KCC’s reasoning has been met with disbelief.

“Whitstable is a very safe area with low crime statistics. It makes no sense, especially to lock it during the day.

“Do they seriously think that kids playing football in the middle of the day are at risk?”

Aside from the supposed danger faced by the public, KCC also claims the field is being misused by local residents as a cut-through.

“During various inspections of the site in the past year or so, our surveyors have noticed a number of members of the public walking through the site to access the cinder track adjoining the western boundary of the site,” it wrote.

“These people have therefore been using the county council's land as a convenient shortcut rather than use the footways within adjoining roads.”

Canterbury City councillor James Flanagan dismissed this explanation as “ridiculous”.

“KCC have shown total disregard for local residents and are turning a much-loved and used open space into a fenced-off plot,” remarked the Chestfield representative.

“Their excuse about people using the field as ‘a convenient short-cut’ is, quite frankly, ridiculous - what is open space for if it’s not to walk across?”

KCC secured funding through the Department of Education (DfE) for the Whitstable Free School project last year.

If the authority throws out the ‘village green’ bid, the Department for Education is expected to launch a 12-month feasibility study. Only then can a planning application go before Canterbury City Council for consideration.

Cllr Thomas said: “Even if a school is eventually built there, it won’t be there for two years - why keep the community locked out in the meantime?

“It seems like an action in bad faith, hurting the community when no such intervention was needed.

“I spent 18 months trying to bring the community around to the idea that part of the field might be needed for a school and then they go and do this.”

The timing of the field’s gates being locked up last Monday and Tuesday was also unfortunate because of a community litter pick the previous weekend.

Bags of rubbish collected by local volunteers were left just inside the Church Street entrance, but when refuse workers arrived on Monday for collection, they were unable to access the site.

Cllr Flanagan said this only highlights KCC’s “contempt” for local residents.

“On Saturday, the community went out and litter picked around the field to keep it clean,” he said.

“On Monday, KCC started locking the gates - this is the thanks that KCC has shown the community, and their contempt for local residents.”

A spokesperson for the authority said: "Following a risk assessment inspection of Church Street Playing Fields, it was decided to secure the area.

“This is private land owned by Kent County Council.”