Welcome to city of Cleethorpes?
THE year 2022 is significant for the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, becoming the first British Monarch to reach 70 years on the throne.
It is the first time in 10 years that Her Majesty has agreed to award the highest of civic honours of city status. Is the time now for North East Lincolnshire Council to bid for the creation of the city of Cleethorpes?
There are currently 70 cities in the United Kingdom with Southend becoming the latest to be awarded the prestigious honour, following the tragic death of Sir David Amess MP, who spent his parliamentary career campaigning for Southend to be awarded the honour.
City status is conferred by the Monarch to a select group of communities. Whilst in England and Wales it is traditionally given to towns with Diocesan cathedrals, this is now no longer a required prerequisite in the new 21st century.
Moreover, there is no set size a community must be to be eligible to granted city status. Indeed, St David’s in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is the United Kingdom’s smallest city with just over 1,600 people living there in the last census. City status in itself does not conifer any extra benefits. No tax breaks, extra powers or guaranteed extra investment.
Nevertheless, there is clear economic benefit for those areas that have city status.
Dr Steve Musson, from the University of Reading and an expert in city status, states: “New cities outperformed their regional counterparts in terms of increasing investment and reducing unemployment.”
Thus, whilst in some people’s eyes city status is purely about status, there are clearly significant economic benefits.
Awarding city status to the area would showcase the Government’s genuine commitment to “levelling up” northern communities.
The granting of city status could also be the key to unlocking Cleethorpes’ long term economic development as it would allow it to bid to become both the UK and European City of Culture.
When Hull was UK City of Culture in 2017 the programme was directly responsible for at least £89.3 million of investment in the city and contributed to a 9.7 per cent increase in tourism that year. Moreover, it generated unprecedented levels of coverage both nationally y and internationally. Cleethorpes’ ’l local l economy is focused around tourism and such an opportunity cannot be underestimated.
Such an opportunity created by the granting of city status would be invaluable to enhancing the area’s economic, leisure and facilities offer. It would also significantly boost the area’s reputation.
Some may argue that Cleethorpes and Great Grimsby should bid for city status together.
However, this would do a disservice to both Cleethorpes and Great Grimsby, which have their own distinct identity, culture and history that is both separate and unique to each area. Great Grimsby was once its own county borough. This meant it had its own police service, fire service and significant control over its transport infrastructure.
Conversely, Cleethorpes on the other hand was linked with Southern Lincolnshire as part of the wider County of Lincolnshire governance structures due to its rural ld identity with h a f focus on tourism. Cleethorpes is the jewel in the crown of the east coast.
The area is the bridge between its historical home of Lincolnshire and those visiting from Yorkshire through its historical links to the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway which is responsible for much of the picturesque landscape and architecture of the area.
In my view the area deserves city status due to the historical role it plays in uniting these two areas and in recognition of its culture.
I know the people of Cleethorpes would be very proud to become a city and it would create a real buzz throughout the community in the short term with greater economic benefits in the long term.
All bids must be submitted by December 8, 2021. If you believe Cleethorpes deserves city status, write to your local councillor and Member of Parliament.