FEARS that a public entrance to Fountains Abbey estate near Ripon could be closed permanently has led to protests to English Heritage.

It comes as villagers in Studley Roger are being canvassed for their views on closing the entrance to Studley Royal deer park via the single village road.

Since February, peace and quiet has reigned in the community after the entrance was closed by the National Trust because of the threat of foot-and-mouth disease.

Villagers are believed to be on the point of requesting a permanent closure of the Studley Roger entrance.

But a champion of the right of way - by car and on foot - Barbara Fisher of Ripon has condemned villagers for wanting "exclusivity" while denying others access.

Mrs Fisher, a retired schoolteacher, said the village had originally comprised estate workers' cottages, but was now more of a commuters' village. She has asked English Heritage, guardians of St Mary's Church in the deer park and Fountains Abbey, to uphold the 130-year-old right of way.

Regional director David Fraser said: "It is certainly my view that Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal estate should be enjoyed by as many people as possible."

National Trust spokeswoman Helen Clarke said the idea for possible closure had not come from the Trust.

She added: "We are a bit in the dark at the moment as to what is the way forward, so we will have to see what the results of the survey have to say."

Although the main entrance to the estate is via the newly-established National Trust visitor centre, off the Ripon-Pateley Bridge road, the Studley Roger entrance remains very popular. It leads to the lakeside car park and attracts more than 60,000 people a year.