WARRINGTON Borough Council has launched a short survey as it continues to consider bidding for city status as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours competition.
The survey, which closes on Thursday 21 October, is an important step in establishing whether Warrington will submit an application as part of the prestigious competition, using feedback aligned to the key strands of the application criteria to help conclude whether a bid will formally be put forward.
Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “I have watched with interest as other towns have put themselves forward as part of the competition – which is a rare and prestigious honour – and it is something we ought to consider for Warrington.
“Bidding for city status would be a reflection of Warrington’s heritage, civic pride and economic might, but before we take a final decision on submitting a city status bid we want to hear from businesses, residents and communities.
“We have already held some discussions with partners across Warrington, which have been very positive and given us plenty to consider, but we also want to make sure we give residents and groups the opportunity to share their views, too.
“Warrington has been on a journey since its inception as a new town and has so much to be proud of. It’s a unique place that blends together tradition and heritage, is a place of sector-leading knowledge and expertise, is home to community-centred, world-class events and has an outstanding charity and voluntary sector.
“These are the components that collectively make Warrington thrive. We want to bring these key themes together to help us consider whether to formally bid for city status, and of course resident feedback is an important, valuable part of this process.”
For more information and to take part in the survey, visit warrington.gov.uk/city-status-bid-survey
In 2017 the council failed in a bid for City of Culture and prior to that failed in a bid to be a City of Peace.
3 Comments
Warrington’s heritage stems from its history as a TOWNship much of which has been systematically destroyed by decades of poor planning at the hands of WBC. The urge to attain City status is yet another example of the Council’s inability to plan and implement projects which enhance the Town and it’s heritage in the 21st century. This is nothing more than yet another money centric, ill thought through proposal IMO.
2years ago the same leader told us all “categorically no – city status is not in the agenda” .. so what’s changed ? We’ve endured the effects of Brexit – the ravages of covid – the golden square getting emptier – the continued inability to let time sq .. so let’s go for city status ? Anyone might think it’s a cheap attempt to deflect away from the leaderships significant and mounting problems ? Sad really – but not surprising !
I wonder, were “the partners,” who were apparently consulted ahead of the people of Warrington on Cllr Bowden’s aim to achieve city status, invited to complete the same questionnaire the people are invited to complete?