Based in the Heart of Crawley
Crawley Borough Council is exploring the possibility of applying for city status on the 75th anniversary of becoming a new town.
Councillors will discuss whether to enter the Civic Honours competition, which is part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, at a meeting on Wednesday 20 October.
Advertise with Spotted from as little as £25 per week. Email Dan@spottedmediaservices.co.uk
The Civic Honours competition, which is free to enter, will bestow city status on towns in the UK. It aims to provide towns with the chance to:
Showcase civic pride, interesting heritage and a record of innovation, Put the town on the map, Bring greater prosperity of opportunity.
A Crawley bid would be based around the central message of ‘75 years ago, you made Crawley a New Town. In that time, we have grown to become a regional powerhouse. Imagine what we can achieve if you made us a New City’.
The report to councillors highlights the benefits of entering the competition, even if a bid is unsuccessful. It provides an opportunity to:
Celebrate and promote the town’s strengths, including our economic power, Gatwick Airport being in the borough, our sense of community and exciting, long-term regeneration programmeRebuild optimism and pride after suffering the worst economic impacts of the pandemicHave a wider discussion about what Crawley can become.
The report adds: “A bid for city status would certainly raise Crawley’s profile, enhancing its reputation and ensuring it is a place that is recognised, helping to put Crawley on the map.
“Given the significant economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our town which is well documented and evidenced; securing City Status will bring with it prestige, standing and an opportunity to lever investment to aid our recovery.
“Studies suggest that a successful bid for city status could bring further investment and employment opportunities.”
Councillor Peter Lamb, Leader of Crawley Borough Council, said: “If councillors agree to enter the competition, Crawley could become the first New Town ever to be granted city status – in the same year that we celebrate our diamond anniversary.
“Bidding is free and a simple process so there is everything to gain and nothing to lose; if we do bid it gives us the chance to shout loudly about our strengths and achievements on a national scale while rebuilding optimism and pride locally.”
If it is decided to enter, a consultation asking for the views of residents, businesses and stakeholders will begin on Thursday 21 October and run for four weeks.
The closing dates for bids to be submitted is 8 December. The government will announce the winners of the competition in early 2022.
For more details visit gov.uk/government/publications/platinum-jubilee-civic-honours-competition