South Ayrshire’s ambition to become a district “city” is unique among the 39 territories contending for the title.
Three applications from across the UK and, for the first time, UK overseas territories will be named cities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next summer.
The South Ayrshire Council’s decision to seek city status for the entire administrative area was the only one of its kind – while other areas took a more traditional approach of seeking city status.
However, with no restrictions on cities and the symbolic nature of this particular type of city status, South Ayrshire took a left-wing approach.
The only comparison offer was Medway in Kent. Unlike South Ayrshire, however, Medway is an urban metropolitan area with few rural areas.
The number of entries was high compared to previous anniversary competitions after the organizers tinkered with the format to facilitate participation.
The Ayrshire Live app is now available for download.
Get all the local news around the clock – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis.
The free download has the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you customize your page with the sections that matter to you.
The Ayrshire Live app is now available for download for iOS and Android.
The nearby neighbor, North Ayrshire Council, had looked like Irvine would be entering the competition, but their offer was canceled. Dumfries and Greenock are both shortlisted, however.
Civil honor would not have much of an impact on South Ayrshire as it is a symbolic rather than a state “appreciation”. A city council or formal city limits would not change.
Commenting on the benefits of city status, Managing Director Eileen Howat said, “I think it’s about promoting South Ayrshire.
“When people are looking for sights, they often look at cities. It is an opportunity to promote all that is good about South Ayrshire. “
Council Chairman Peter Henderson also said it was too good a chance to pass up.
Continue reading
Related articles
The government says the Civic Honors competition is an opportunity for local authorities to showcase their civic pride, interesting heritage, and innovation.
Earning city status can give a boost to local communities and open up new opportunities for the people who live there, she added.
Applicants were asked to speak about the distinct identity and community they believed their region deserved to become a city, as well as their region’s royal associations.
Unlike previous Civic Honors competitions, a panel of experts will work closely with UK Government Ministers to make their recommendations before it is approved by Her Majesty the Queen.
The final decision will be made in spring 2022 and will be announced shortly afterwards as part of the Queen’s platinum anniversary celebrations.
Continue reading
Related articles
List of places that have applied for city status …
- Alcester, Warwickshire
- Ballymena, County Antrim
- Bangor, County Down
- Blackburn, Lancashire
- Bolsover, Derbyshire
- Boston, Lincolnshire
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Coleraine, County Londonderry
- Colchester, Essex
- Crawley, West Sussex
- Crewe, Cheshire
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Dorchester, Dorset
- Douglas, Isle of Man
- Dudley, West Midlands
- Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway
- Dunfermline, Fife
- Elgin, Moray
- George Town, Cayman Islands
- Gibraltar, Gibraltar
- Goole, East Yorkshire
- Greenock, Renfrewshire
- Guildford, Surrey
- Livingston, West Lothian
- Marazion, Cornwall
- Medway, Kent
- Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
- Newport and Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight
- Northampton, Northamptonshire
- Oban, Argyll and Bute
- Reading, Berkshire
- Peel, Isle of Man
- St. Andrews, Fife
- Stanley, Falkland Islands
- South Ayrshire, Ayrshire and Arran
- Warrington, Cheshire
- Warwick, Warwickshire
- Wrexham, Clwyd
Full decision-making body …
- Peter Lee – Constitutional Director in the Cabinet Office
- Ben Dean – Director of Sports, Gambling and Ceremonies at the Institute for Culture, Media and Sports
- Catherine Francis – General Manager, Local Government and Public Services in the Division of Promotion, Housing and Communities
- Laurence Rocky – Director, Secretary of State for Scotland
- Roger Lewis – President of Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum of Wales)
- Kate Mavor – Chief Executive Officer, Heritage England
- Lord Neil Mendoza – Commissioner, Cultural Recovery and Renewal
- Kathryn Thomson – Chief Executive Officer, National Museums NI
Don’t miss the latest headlines from Ayrshire – sign up for our free daily newsletter here