An Isle of Wight councillor wants the county town of Newport to become a city.
As part of the the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year, towns across the UK are putting their best foot forward in a chance to be recognised as a city.
The Civic Honours competition will see the rare awards granted for the first time in ten years.
Hoping to throw Newport’s hat into the ring, Cllr Martin Oliver put forward a motion at the last full council meeting to prepare a draft of a bid, seeking the support of key partners such as Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, businesses and the public.
The bids will showcase the town’s civic pride, interesting heritage and record of innovation to make the case for awarding the honour to the town.
It would then come back to the full council in November for approval before being sent off to government.
Cllr Oliver said the Island would be putting forward a good case.
The motion, however, was deferred to the next cabinet meeting in September as any proposal that would materially increase expenditure goes through the councillors senior members.
Trying to find a positive in the ‘last 18 months of hassle’, Cllr Oliver said it would benefit not just Newport but the Island as well is the status was granted.
Although initially unsure about the bid, Cllr Oliver was invited to speak to Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council where he gained unanimous support.
He said he was not trying to put one town against another and would be supportive if Ryde, or any other town, came forward with a bid but with Newport as the county town, it just made sense.
Cllr Oliver said if he can get the support, the Island had a chance at having a city.
Bids have already been submitted by multiple towns hoping to be successful, including Dudley, Dorchester and Reading.
There is no set number of towns that could be made cities the Cabinet Office has said, it just depends on the strength of the applications received.
The competition closes in December and all valid entries will receive individual consideration, before recommendations are made to the Queen by ministers.
The nation is set to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign with a four-day Bank Holiday weekend next June.
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