Colchester is one of 39 cities across the UK to apply for city status this year, as confirmed.
As of December this year, a total of 39 cities in the United Kingdom submitted bids for city status as part of a competition in honor of the Queen’s Platinum Anniversary in 2022, according to CheshireLive.
It would make Colchester Essex the third largest city after Southend-on-Sea was granted city status in memory of Sir David Amess, the MP who was killed in October.
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The status of a city can give a decisive boost to local communities and open up new opportunities for people.
It’s also a broader recognition of a city’s growth or prestige.
However, city status does not entail any special rights such as tax breaks or additional funding.
If successful, Colchester City Council would still operate under Essex County Council in a two tier system.
In a council meeting on October 20, the city councils voted almost unanimously to continue their fourth bid for city status and largely agreed that “Essex has room for three cities”.
Other cities applying for city status are Guilford, Milton Keynes, Reading, Doncaster, Warrington and Middlesborough.
The competition is part of a series of planned celebrations to mark the historic 70th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign.
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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.
Culture Minister Nadine Dorries said, “Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, is an exciting opportunity for local areas to become cities and improve opportunities for all.
“Not only does this competition promote the pride and potential of the locals, but it is also a great way to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70th reign.
“I wish all submissions the best of luck. 2022 will be a year of pride, celebration and coming together with the four day weekend for the platinum anniversary alongside other blockbuster events such as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Unboxed promoting creativity in the UK. “
Unlike previous Civic Honors competitions, a panel of experts will work closely with Ministers to make their recommendations before it is approved by Her Majesty the Queen.
Full list of cities
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, Hampshire
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
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