D-Day for cities hoping to secure top title

All candidates vying for the City of Culture title must get their bids in by today’s deadline.

The line-up of competitors was revealed by UK minister of state for digital and culture Matt Hancock in March.

Paisley is the only other entrant north of the border.

The Renfrewshire town marked the submission of its all-important 30-page dossier with a colourful display in front of Paisley Town Hall.

Around 200 people donned bright T-shirts and formed a giant teardrop motif, the internationally recognised symbol carrying the town’s name.

The town’s bid director Jean Cameron said people of all ages and backgrounds had supported the campaign.

“The bid document submitted to DCMS this week carries the voices and hopes of those people, as well as a clear vision of how Paisley will harness the power of culture to transform our economy, town centre and reputation and, with it, the lives of the people who live here.”

In Coventry bid leaders said their application had been based heavily on research into the social and economic make-up of the area, along with evidence of the number of visitors the city attracts, from where and for what activity.

Laura McMillan, manager of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said locals had been working on the campaign for 18 months. “There have been some very long hours and some massive decisions along the way but we couldn’t be happier with the bid,” she said.

“It recognises the challenges that Coventry faces but also some of the great things that are going on under the surface. The evidence we’ve gathered from the research – such as Coventry being a very young, diverse city – has had a huge bearing on the bid.”

Warrington, which was among the last to announce its entry, has submitted one of the longest submissions – at 100 pages.

Hull started its 2017 City of Culture reign on New Year’s Day.

It was announced this week that the BBC Proms will host three concerts in the Humber region, leaving London for the first time since the 1930s.

More than £1 billion has been invested in the city since it won the title in 2013.