An opinion writer for the Spectator magazine has delivered a withering verdict on Canterbury, describing it as “scruffy and neglected”.

Lloyd Evans’ article says the city is in “general decline” and even likens its iconic Cathedral to a “crippled old man”.

The piece, titled ‘What happened to Canterbury?’, was published on Saturday and sparked a backlash on social media, with residents branding it “utter nonsense” and “complete rubbish”.

Mr Evans starts by referring to the recent Kent County Council elections in which Canterbury held on to two Labour council seats in the north and south.

In the article, he states: “Canterbury’s tale is one of general decline.

“The lucrative parties of French schoolchildren and day-trippers have largely gone, partly because Ashford International, the Kent stop of the Eurostar, was shut and never reopened after Covid.

“The local economy has suffered as a result. The remaining businesses are coarsening the appearance of a city, which is as important to the Anglican communion as Rome is to the Catholic Church.

“Some residents deplore the changing appearance of the commercial centre.”

He also quotes former Lib Dem city councillor Nick Eden-Green who previously described Canterbury as being “like a second-class Las Vegas”. This was regarding brightly coloured signs, particularly outside vape shops, along the high street.

Mr Evans also highlights the long-empty Debenhams and Nasons, as well as Thomas Cook.

He continues: “There is also a knock-off Harry Potter merch shop called ‘House of Secrets’ on a site that is owned by the cathedral. Rather than finding a more suitable tenant, the cathedral’s administrators simply accepted the highest bid, at least according to one person privy to the decision.

“The crime rate in Canterbury is nearly 50% higher than the national average, and there are outlying estates which one local described as ‘a bit stabby’.”

The city’s 1,428-year-old Cathedral came under fire in the opinion piece.

Mr Evans mentions the scaffolding, which is often in place, adding: “Some of the spruced-up stonework is brand new, but elsewhere the masonry seems sad and haggard. Many original carvings have been worn smooth by centuries of wind and rain.

“The poor wreck looks like a crippled old man being worked on by medics who know his full health will never be restored.”

However, of the more modern gift shop, he said: “Beautifully lit, it brims with luxury knick-knacks arranged on open shelves that invite the visitor to reach out and inspect the goods.

“I bought a cathedral baseball cap to make up for lying about my faith when I snuck in for free.”

After dark, Mr Evans reveals he gave a rough sleeper “enough cash to buy a litre of hard liquor” after a conversation over the state of homelessness in the area.

He added: “As it gets dark, the beggars appear, seeking alms from weary shoppers. In the rain, I spoke to Ginger, an articulate vagrant aged 50, whose sleeping bag had been pinched.

“He sheltered beneath a broken umbrella donated by a sympathetic local. ‘I bought that sleeping bag for £68 in Brighton,’ he told me. ‘It was a Vango Zenith 75.’

“I asked him what kind of person would steal from the homeless. ‘Other homeless people,’ he said. ‘They’re scumbags.’”

Reacting on social media, residents criticised Mr Evans’ article, saying it was an unfair depiction of Canterbury.

City councillor Paul Prentice said: “Journalist visits on a day trip, makes sweeping assumptions and leaves. Yawn.”

Liz Richardson wrote: “He'd set off with an agenda and at least half was factually incorrect.”