City residents will have to pay to enter Canterbury Cathedral for the first time ever when permits granting free access to locals are scrapped in the new year.

Officials say the complementary passes for those living within four miles of the Precincts or working in the city centre is no longer sustainable.

All eligible applicants who meet the "local" criteria will now have to buy a £6 Cathedral Pass to enter the historic site, which will replace the existing Precincts Pass in January.

But the charge has been branded “unjustified” by a member of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral, Prof Sean Sayers, who is also leading the campaign to reopen the Queningate entrance to the Precincts to the public.

“Although £6 may not sound a lot, some people may struggle to afford it in the current climate,” he said.

“What the Cathedral should have done is just charge for entry to the building itself, like many others.

“There is also the potential issue of what these new electronic cards will be used for and whether holders will be bombarded with things like adverts, or have their information shared.”

Commenting on the new charge on the Sturry and Broad Oak Facebook group, Kevin Twyman said: “I walked through the precincts every day to get to school in the 50s.

"It was free then, and has been for most of my life. I’m sorry to see local people lose that privilege.”

The Precincts Pass was introduced in 2002 as a concession to residents and city workers when the Cathedral first started charging tourists and visitors to enter the site and historic building.

Since then, thousands have been given out to those who qualify.

Cathedral spokesman Nathan Crouch says the price of the new permit has been kept as low as possible to cover the cost of the card, administration and help towards the site's running costs of about £20,000 a day.

“The new permit will be valid for five years – at which point the pass-holder can renew and the fee is £6 - the equivalent of 10p per month,” he said.

“Those attending services of worship will continue to have free access and are open to everyone.”

Mr Crouch says the new card will also help with the occasional misuse of permits, which results in the loss of income.

But Prof Sayers, an emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Kent, argued: “The Precincts occupy a vast area in the centre of the city and are a hugely important amenity for the whole community.

“It is no more justified to charge us for entry than it would be to charge for entry to the city’s parks.”

"Although £6 may not sound a lot, some people may struggle to afford it in the current climate..."

Applications for the old Precincts Pass are now closed, but existing cards can still be used until January 9, 2023.

Those eligible to apply for the new pass also include members of the congregation, volunteers, members of any church in the Diocese and refugees or "displaced persons".

Local students and university staff can also get in with their ID cards.

The Cathedral says it is now required to manage personal data in a way which is not possible without a proper system.

Tourists and other visitors will continue to pay the current £15.50 entry fee for adults.

The new charge follows a recent residents’ row with Cathedral bosses over the Queningate access in Lower Bridge Street, on the grounds of tightening up security for the whole Cathedral site.

It is being met with stiff opposition from many who have enjoyed using the entrance for decades to enjoyably make their way across the city.

But Cathedral bosses are sticking to their decision, arguing that “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.”