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Post by Gods on May 20, 2022 21:30:41 GMT
As you might expect, its all very inclusive, something for everyone and something for everywhere!
England: Colchester, Milton Keynes and Doncaster
Scotland:Dunfermline
Wales: Wrexham
Northern Ireland: Bangor
Islands of the UK: Douglas on the Isle of Man
Colonies: Stanley on the Falkland Islands
All boxes duly ticked
This same process is now followed for everrything from SPOTY nominations to BBC presenters throigh to the Honours list and everythng in between.
I guess its a good thing but it kind of sucks the fun out of it all
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Post by somersetstokie on May 20, 2022 21:40:03 GMT
Just for reference I have recycled my post from yesterday on the "Great City of Stoke on Trent" thread, for relevance!
"I am using this thread rather than starting a new one on the subject of "City Status".
Ok Stoke is not a new City, but has been one since 1925, so close on a hundred years. City status was at one time something to be proud of and a mark of stature and prestige. Wells, where I live, has enjoyed City status since the Middle Ages, thanks to the presence of its awesome Cathedral. There are some great Cities in the UK of all descriptions and cultures. However it seems that in the second Elizabethan era any old conurbation can apply for, or be "honoured", with the Title and description of City. Even Wolverhampton (2000), Brighton (2000) and laterly Southend. Now the Queens Jubilee celebrations have given us Wrexham and Milton Keynes. I find some of these selections to be very surprising.
What I would once have regarded as a fairly exclusive and prestigious club seems to be becoming less so with every passing year. I now wonder if Stafford will make it on to the City list in the near future!"
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Post by shakermaker on May 20, 2022 21:40:38 GMT
As you might expect, its all very inclusive, something for everyone and everywhere! England: Colchester, Milton Keynes and Doncaster Scotland:Dunfermline Wales: Wrexham Northern Ireland: Bangor Islands of the UK: Douglas on the Isle of Man Colonies: Stanley on the Falkland Islands All boxes duly ticked Anyone else notced then same process is now followed for SPOTY nominations, BBC presenters, the Honours list.., you name it! D What a load of bollocks this is. I mean is there a good reason why these towns have been made cities, or is it a token gesture to tie in with the Jubilee? Douglas is as much of a city as Grimsby is a holiday resort! If there is no meaningful set of guidelines a town must achieve to be a city, just make all towns cities now instead of having to wait for the good grace of some political monkey up an ivory tower! |
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Post by Gods on May 20, 2022 22:42:33 GMT
As you might expect, its all very inclusive, something for everyone and everywhere! England: Colchester, Milton Keynes and Doncaster Scotland:Dunfermline Wales: Wrexham Northern Ireland: Bangor Islands of the UK: Douglas on the Isle of Man Colonies: Stanley on the Falkland Islands All boxes duly ticked Anyone else notced then same process is now followed for SPOTY nominations, BBC presenters, the Honours list.., you name it! D What a load of bollocks this is. I mean is there a good reason why these towns have been made cities, or is it a token gesture to tie in with the Jubilee? Douglas is as much of a city as Grimsby is a holiday resort! If there is no meaningful set of guidelines a town must achieve to be a city, just make all towns cities now instead of having to wait for the good grace of some political monkey up an ivory tower! I think once upon a time the guidelines were 'has a cathedral'. I imagine this program sits conveniently (win-win) between the Jubilee and the Governments 'levelling up' agenda. It doesn't feel authentic but I don't suppose most people in the selected cties will care too much about that. |
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Post by innocentbystander on May 20, 2022 22:50:40 GMT
They say every village has it's idiot.
These must be villages which have overfilled their idiot quotient to the point where they have enough idiots to be given city status.
Wrexham is particularly well qualified.
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Post by noustie on May 20, 2022 22:51:33 GMT
What a load of bollocks this is. I mean is there a good reason why these towns have been made cities, or is it a token gesture to tie in with the Jubilee? Douglas is as much of a city as Grimsby is a holiday resort! If there is no meaningful set of guidelines a town must achieve to be a city, just make all towns cities now instead of having to wait for the good grace of some political monkey up an ivory tower! I think once upon a time the guidelines were 'has a cathedral'. I imagine this program sits conveniently (win-win) between the Jubilee and the Governments 'levelling up' agenda. It doesn't feel authentic but I don't suppose most people in the selected cties will care too much about that. I think having a Mecca Bingo or Job Centre is the new prerequisite |
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Post by danceswithclams on May 21, 2022 0:05:19 GMT
I think having a Mecca Bingo or Job Centre is the new prerequisite 'More than 4 branches of Greggs' is the main criteria. (That's how The Vatican qualified, I know that for sure) |
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Post by hotterpotter on May 21, 2022 6:30:40 GMT
It should be dependent on being in the football Premier League or Championship. Cities would then be subject to relegation/promotion, making the whole thing much more interesting and less dependent on the whim of the Monarch using an undefined set of criteria.
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Post by partickpotter on May 21, 2022 6:44:11 GMT
I just don’t get it.
What’s the point?
What prompts people to say we’re not happy that our town is a town, we want to be a city.
Weird.
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Post by chuffedstokie on May 21, 2022 6:52:09 GMT
I just don’t get it. What’s the point? What prompts people to say we’re not happy that our town is a town, we want to be a city. Weird. Is this something thrust upon towns, "you are now a city, get used to it" or do towns apply for it?. I notice that Luton was missed out in this round. 🤔 |
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Post by oggyoggy on May 21, 2022 7:08:06 GMT
I just don’t get it. What’s the point? What prompts people to say we’re not happy that our town is a town, we want to be a city. Weird. I think those applying for city status think there is some prestige to being a city rather than a town. So I think it makes it slightly more attractive to tourists/business/investment etc. |
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Post by partickpotter on May 21, 2022 7:08:51 GMT
I just don’t get it. What’s the point? What prompts people to say we’re not happy that our town is a town, we want to be a city. Weird. Is this something thrust upon towns, "you are now a city, get used to it" or do towns apply for it?. I notice that Luton was missed out in this round. 🤔 It’s a good question. No doubts some town “worthies” are behind it. Whether folk living there want it, don’t want it or don’t give a shit is less certain. I’d put myself in the latter category unless I happened to be a local football supporter living in Luton, or Ipswich, Huddersfield, Swindon, Shrewsbury etc… where I might be opposed. |
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on May 21, 2022 7:20:09 GMT
Maybe it opens up different funding pots from central govt if you're a city?
There's probably some economic or investment benefits.
Stanley is an odd choice. Only 2,000 people, although that's more than St Davids in Wales, Britain's smallest city, quiz fans!
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Post by partickpotter on May 21, 2022 7:31:30 GMT
I just don’t get it. What’s the point? What prompts people to say we’re not happy that our town is a town, we want to be a city. Weird. I think those applying for city status think there is some prestige to being a city rather than a town. So I think it makes it slightly more attractive to tourists/business/investment etc. Yeah, I think that’s the argument. I wonder if there’s any evidence? Has Sunderland or Wolverhampton experienced a surge in tourists since they became cities? A boom in inward investment attributable to the conferring of that title. I suspect not. The argument I’ve seen is that these places gain by joining an exclusive club. Of course, that exclusivity diminishes with every new addition because, by definition, it has become more inclusive and therefore less exclusive. An exclusive club, for example, that accepted me as a member would be considerably less exclusive. Anyway, I care not. Just mildly curious. |
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Post by hotterpotter on May 21, 2022 7:31:41 GMT
I think having a Mecca Bingo or Job Centre is the new prerequisite 'More than 4 branches of Greggs' is the main criteria. (That's how The Vatican qualified, I know that for sure) Would have to be more than four. I live in a hamlet and we have seven houses and eight Greggs. |
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Post by oggyoggy on May 21, 2022 7:33:47 GMT
I think those applying for city status think there is some prestige to being a city rather than a town. So I think it makes it slightly more attractive to tourists/business/investment etc. Yeah, I think that’s the argument. I wonder if there’s any evidence? Has Sunderland or Wolverhampton experienced a surge in tourists since they became cities? A boom in inward investment attributable to the conferring of that title. I suspect not. The argument I’ve seen is that these places gain by joining an exclusive club. Of course, that exclusivity diminishes with every new addition because, by definition, it has become more inclusive and therefore less exclusive. An exclusive club, for example, that accepted me as a member would be considerably less exclusive. Anyway, I care not. Just mildly curious. Maybe the academics at LSE could do an analysis and tell us!? |
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on May 21, 2022 7:39:56 GMT
Yeah, I think that’s the argument. I wonder if there’s any evidence? Has Sunderland or Wolverhampton experienced a surge in tourists since they became cities? A boom in inward investment attributable to the conferring of that title. I suspect not. The argument I’ve seen is that these places gain by joining an exclusive club. Of course, that exclusivity diminishes with every new addition because, by definition, it has become more inclusive and therefore less exclusive. An exclusive club, for example, that accepted me as a member would be considerably less exclusive. Anyway, I care not. Just mildly curious. Maybe the academics at LSE could do an analysis and tell us!? Pfft, them? They know nothing! |
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on May 21, 2022 7:41:25 GMT
Radcliffe and Maconie just talking about this.
Maconie thinks there should be relegation too! Cities relegated to towns if they're a bit shit!
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Post by oggyoggy on May 21, 2022 8:23:06 GMT
Radcliffe and Maconie just talking about this. Maconie thinks there should be relegation too! Cities relegated to towns if they're a bit shit! I bet London and Manchester would get all “super league” about it and to make sure they could never be relegated |
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on May 21, 2022 8:33:10 GMT
Radcliffe and Maconie just talking about this. Maconie thinks there should be relegation too! Cities relegated to towns if they're a bit shit! I bet London and Manchester would get all “super league” about it and to make sure they could never be relegated You'd have to fear for Stoke, wouldn't you! Wolverhampton, Birmingham... |
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Post by somersetstokie on May 21, 2022 8:40:27 GMT
Maybe it opens up different funding pots from central govt if you're a city? There's probably some economic or investment benefits. Stanley is an odd choice. Only 2,000 people, although that's more than St Davids in Wales, Britain's smallest city, quiz fans! Perhaps it's a good thing that these "titles" aren't decided by size. Wells, which is fabulously fascinating, had a population of just over 10,000 in the 2011 census, and is little more than a village with quite a few shops. With reference to the "qualifying criteria" the "City" has only one Greggs! And yes, as a City the place does benefit economically from its "fame" and status, to the tune of around 220,000 visiting tourists every year. |
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Post by partickpotter on May 21, 2022 9:42:53 GMT
Maybe it opens up different funding pots from central govt if you're a city? There's probably some economic or investment benefits. Stanley is an odd choice. Only 2,000 people, although that's more than St Davids in Wales, Britain's smallest city, quiz fans! Perhaps it's a good thing that these "titles" aren't decided by size. Wells, which is fabulously fascinating, had a population of just over 10,000 in the 2011 census, and is little more than a village with quite a few shops. With reference to the "qualifying criteria" the "City" has only one Greggs! And yes, as a City the place does benefit economically from its "fame" and status, to the tune of around 220,000 visiting tourists every year. It would be interesting to know why so many people visit Ely. I suspect that sensational wee churchy thing might be why. Doubtful it’s the presence of a Greggs. Pretty unlikely it’s because it’s a city. Maybe the LSE could do a study to confirm.  |
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Post by elystokie on May 21, 2022 10:19:34 GMT
Perhaps it's a good thing that these "titles" aren't decided by size. Wells, which is fabulously fascinating, had a population of just over 10,000 in the 2011 census, and is little more than a village with quite a few shops. With reference to the "qualifying criteria" the "City" has only one Greggs! And yes, as a City the place does benefit economically from its "fame" and status, to the tune of around 220,000 visiting tourists every year. It would be interesting to know why so many people visit Ely. I suspect that sensational wee churchy thing might be why. Doubtful it’s the presence of a Greggs. Pretty unlikely it’s because it’s a city. Maybe the LSE could do a study to confirm. When I lived there the attraction seemed to be the free parking for shoppers, people would drive from miles around. The church thingy probably pulled a few in too.. |
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Post by somersetstokie on May 21, 2022 10:23:53 GMT
Well, when I went to Cambridgeshire it all seemed very flat! And no atmosphere.
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Post by elystokie on May 21, 2022 10:27:51 GMT
Well, when I went to Lincolnshire it all seemed very flat! And no atmosphere. The whole of East Anglia bar a couple of mounds is like that! Ok if you like big skies and mile after mile of rapeseed crops, otherwise completely uninspiring |
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Post by somersetstokie on May 21, 2022 10:33:34 GMT
Strangely most of Somerset seems to be like that as well! Must be a Cathedral builders dream as the building looks even more imposing rising out of fairly featureless surrounding marshland.
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Post by elystokie on May 21, 2022 10:42:57 GMT
Strangely most of Somerset seems to be like that as well! Must be a Cathedral builders dream as the building looks even more imposing rising out of fairly featureless surrounding marshland. Yeh, similar but on a much smaller scale obviously, we used to go that way often, had a static at Brean Sands, it used to get very busy down there. I used to love the cloudy cider from the farms, a pint of it would probably do me in nowadays |
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Post by Vadiation_Ribe on May 23, 2022 20:14:32 GMT
Maybe everywhere will be a city in a few decades. Perhaps Prince Charles will grant everywhere city status if he becomes King.
It all seems a bit pointless, but will at least provide some new pointless answers for Pointless.
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Post by somersetstokie on May 24, 2022 8:39:08 GMT
Digressing from purely UK interest your post reminds me of the background to the film Rollerball. A globalised world social order is run and organized by Corporations, and the major cities are known by their associated Corporate identity. For example, Chicago is the Food City and Houston is the Energy City.
This certainly puts a new slant on things, but I suspect they would soon run out of titles to give the various cities!
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2022 9:21:53 GMT
Perhaps it's a good thing that these "titles" aren't decided by size. Wells, which is fabulously fascinating, had a population of just over 10,000 in the 2011 census, and is little more than a village with quite a few shops. With reference to the "qualifying criteria" the "City" has only one Greggs! And yes, as a City the place does benefit economically from its "fame" and status, to the tune of around 220,000 visiting tourists every year. It would be interesting to know why so many people visit Ely. I suspect that sensational wee churchy thing might be why. Doubtful it’s the presence of a Greggs. Pretty unlikely it’s because it’s a city. Maybe the LSE could do a study to confirm. To see cousins getting married would be my guess |
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