THE aristocratic police officer at the centre of the Windsor Castle security bungle is facing a ‘peasants’ revolt’ in one of Scotland’s most historic villages.

Commander Peter Loughborough received more than £360,000 in public cash to refurbish his properties in the Midlothian community of Roslin, including the castle and 500-year-old chapel.

Critics claim that Loughborough - the seventh Earl of Rosslyn - is depriving the community of a potential fortune in income from tourists because he refuses to open the ancient properties to the public.

As head of the Metropolitan Police’s royal protection squad, Loughborough hit the headlines last month after ‘comedy terrorist’ Aaron Barschak managed to gatecrash Prince William’s 21st birthday party. Loughborough’s position as head of the squad could depend on a report into the incident being prepared for Home Secretary David Blunkett.

But the Eton-educated officer, whose main home is in Berkshire, also has trouble to contend with closer to his ancestral home.

Loughborough, whose family’s links to the area go back centuries, effectively owns and controls Rosslyn Chapel, Castle and College Hill House through a complicated system of trusts.

Between 1985 and 2001, Historic Scotland gave £365,000 towards the seven-figure cost of refurbishing the properties, which date back to 1446.

While the chapel, which is still being renovated, is open to the public and attracts more than 35,000 visitors a year, the other properties are rented out at up to £1,500 a week to wealthy American tourists and can only be visited by the public by appointment.

Roslin villagers argue that unrestricted access would lead to a big increase in visitor numbers and give a much-needed boost to the local economy.

John Ritchie, secretary of the Midlothian Federation of Community Councils and a Roslin resident, said: "There’s been a huge amount of public money spent on the chapel, castle and College Hill House, and very little of it has come back into Roslin and Midlothian. And Roslin is suffering. The people of Roslin are pretty choked up about the whole thing.

"I played in the castle as a youngster. It was open every day of the week. Suddenly there’s a huge input of money, it’s done up and ever since it’s been rented out.

"It’s not accessible to the public. Why should I have to phone and make an appointment?"

Roslin farmer Robin Crawford said the castle could have been turned into a significant tourist attraction.

But he said: "It’s let out to Americans who want to live in a Scottish castle. The interesting bits of the castle - the dungeons and the old parts underneath - could be used for tours but they’re not.

"I’ve never fallen out with him - life’s too short - but he typifies the absentee landlord as far as Roslin is concerned."

Jim Munro, a retired businessman who acts as a local tour guide, wanted College Hill House to be turned into a visitor centre with an old ale-house theme.

"Visitors could have benefited Roslin as a whole, rather than driving through the village to the chapel and driving out again. The earl refused because he said he needed it for his family, but none of them are in it."

The row is not the first time the earl has fallen out with locals. In 1997, he blocked plans to turn the village parsonage into a heritage centre for the St Clair family, who were the original earls of Rosslyn.

He controversially used his feudal rights to prevent a change of use of the building, which had been bought by a group called the Friends of Rosslyn.

They saw it as a good way to bring tourists visiting the chapel into the village, but the earl decided he did not want a ‘rival’ attraction.

David Reith, a lawyer for the Rosslyn family, insisted last night that Loughborough had acted in the best interests of the village. He said Loughborough had brought about the renovation of the castle and College Hill House, and that renting the buildings out to holidaymakers helped the local economy.

"The village says they are doing nothing, but that’s bringing in tourists to the village. We think the fact the earl rescued this castle should be acknowledged. Thirty years ago you could just wander into the ruins. It was falling down. It’s good it has been restored." Loughborough was last night unavailable for comment.

Historic Scotland confirmed that Rosslyn Chapel, the castle and College Hill House had been given grants of £206,000, £84,000 and £74,000 respectively.

The latter two grants were made subject to a condition that the public could make an appointment to visit.

A spokesman said a complaint about access had been received, but that Historic Scotland was satisfied the conditions were being met.

Rosslyn Chapel has attracted interest from all over the world because of its links to the Knights Templar and a claim that the Holy Grail is buried beneath it.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told Scotland on Sunday that the report into the security breach would be ready "soon".

As head of the royal protection squad, Loughborough would have approved the overall security plan for the party at Windsor Castle.

There has been speculation that he will fall on his sword - a predecessor resigned after Michael Fagan managed to get into the Queen’s bedroom in 1982 - but he is highly regarded by his colleagues and has shown no sign of quitting.