Eight new cities are being created for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, including on the Falkland Islands and Isle of Man, but not here on the Isle of Wight.
In 2021, with the backing of Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, Cllr Martin Oliver, who represents Shide and Mountjoy ward, proposed that Isle of Wight apply for city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The council’s Cabinet approved a motion to support the plans and lead the preparation of a bid. At the following full council meeting the motion received almost unanimous support from councillors.
Leader: An opportunity for us to celebrate everything we know is important about Newport
Applicants had to show their cultural heritage and royal links, and at the time, Isle of Wight council leader, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, said,
“This bid for city status is an opportunity for us to celebrate everything we know is important about Newport and reflect its status as our Island’s county town.
“City status really does bring greater kudos and hopefully help attract investment into the town.”
She added,
“A bid for city status should also be seen as recognition for the whole Island and look to build on the sense and value of community that has been enhanced in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and that will be necessary as the Island works to recover from it.”
Brodie: “Too much talking the Island down”
The then-council Chairman, Cllr Geoff Brodie, said at the time of the bid that the more he thought about the idea, the more it was a good one and there was too much talking the Island down.
News OnTheWight has requested a comment from the council about the news and will update once we hear back from them.
The results
The eight locations that can now benefit from city status include:
- Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland
- Colchester, Essex, England
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England
- Douglas, Isle of Man
- Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England
- Stanley, Falkland Islands
- Wrexham, north east Wales
Southampton has won the competition for Lord Mayoralty status – which means the mayor can be called Lord Mayor.
It was previously announced that Southend in Essex would become a city following the murder of MP, Sir David Amess.
Source: BBC
