Tiny Welsh town (pop 3500) granted city status- and it cost them just £300
The remote town of St Asaph in North Wales has been given city status- even though it has a population of less than 3500 people.
The surprise announcement puts the Denbighshire town ahead of the likes of Reading which also applied for the honour - a town which has more than 65 times the amount of residents.
(http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ZULQFxd9II.zkPpdAIo8HA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/251/2012/03/14/stasaphREX-jpg_121917.jpg)
It is the third time St Asaph, which has a cathedral dating back 1,400 years, has put in a bid following applications in 2000 and in 2002.
St Asaph was given the honour by the Queen along with Chelmsford, Essex, and Perth, Scotland. And while fellow competitors spent thousands of pounds on their city bids, St Asaph set aside just £300.
“In many ways we felt like we were in a David vs Goliath battle,†St Asaph Mayor Andrew Thomas told Yahoo! News. “We are over the moon with the decision but mostly it is nice to see that we have been recognised in the local area."
“Although it is fairly small, St Asaph has a cluster of businesses at the forefront of optical technology and an international music festival. In total we also have around 800,000 visitors a year and this packs a huge punch.â€
St Asaph’s city bid was seen to be a long shot, with bookies William Hill listing it as 33-1 rank outsiders.
“We knew we weren’t fancied but historically up until the 1960s and 1970s we always thought we were a city - it was even taught in schools,†said Mayor Thomas.
“We have typically always been known as a city due to our cathedral but it was never put in writing. While we are proud of the achievement we want to add sincere commiserations to the towns that lost outâ€.
And the towns who missed out on the Diamond Jubilee city bid were:
Bolton, Bournemouth, Colchester, Coleraine, Corby, Craigavon, Croydon, Doncaster, Dorchester, Dudley, Dumfries, Gateshead, Goole, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Reading, Southend, St Austell, Stockport, Tower Hamlets and Wrexham.
Fixed I tell ya...
:D
Living in Leighton Buzzard, halfway between Luton and Milton Keynes I'm glad they didn't!
Milton Keynes road signs all say 'New town and City of Milton Keynes' - wonder how long they will stay in place!
Size isn't everything Leon... ;) ;D
Cheers - Phil.
Exactly WHO did they slip the £300 to? :D
Quote from: Hertsblue on 15 March 2012, 09:34:35 AM
Exactly WHO did they slip the £300 to? :D
WELSH assembly, dammned uppity these bloody welsh, isn't a sheep safe near my home- keep going cross border.
IanS :d
I think Queenie created 1 new city in England, Scotland and Wales.
It looks like there were only two Welsh candidates, St Asaph and Wrexham and St Asaph's has a Catherdral...
Bolton, Bournemouth, Colchester, Coleraine, Corby, Craigavon, Croydon, Doncaster, Dorchester, Dudley, Dumfries, Gateshead, Goole, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Reading, Southend, St Austell, Stockport, Tower Hamlets and Wrexham.
At the risk of offending a great chunk of forum users I have visited 95% of the places listed and with the exception of St Austell and Coleraine I agree with Her Majesty ;D
Huzzah for the little Welsh place !
Cheers - Phil.
So what does "City Status" do :-\
Quote from: Blaker on 15 March 2012, 02:48:43 PM
So what does "City Status" do :-\
Good question. As far as I can see it just gives you a charter to hang in the town hall and bragging rights over your neighbours.
Anyway, England's going to be one giant city in a century or so. :'(
it allows you to double the density of kebab, fried chicken and pizza outlets i believe
Quote from: Hertsblue on 16 March 2012, 09:49:18 AM
Anyway, England's going to be one giant city in a century or so. :'(
Isn't it already Ray ? ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: Techno on 16 March 2012, 09:56:29 AM
Isn't it already Ray ? ;)
Cheers - Phil.
having been sat just on the correct side of the English Welsh border with a dead car last night - NO
IanS :( :'( :'(
I always thought to qualify as a city, the town must have a CATHEDRAL
Quote from: goat major on 16 March 2012, 09:53:48 AM
it allows you to double the density of kebab, fried chicken and pizza outlets i believe
I don't think that's physically possible in Boro, they'd have to build more shop space first.
Quote from: daveyboy21 on 16 March 2012, 01:40:39 PM
I always thought to qualify as a city, the town must have a CATHEDRAL
That was the original method, but I think it's more of a financial/ceremonial affair now. Kinda like being knighted instead of actually being a knight... :-\
Quote from: Techno on 16 March 2012, 09:56:29 AM
Isn't it already Ray ? ;)
Cheers - Phil.
All I know is that when we moved here fifteen years ago we could see green fields. Now you have to drive for twenty minutes to catch a glimpse. :'(
Quote from: Hertsblue on 17 March 2012, 09:42:28 AM
All I know is that when we moved here fifteen years ago we could see green fields. Now you have to drive for twenty minutes to catch a glimpse. :'(
But you live in Lundun - that aint England
IanS
Quote from: ianrs54 on 18 March 2012, 07:52:49 AM
But you live in Lundun - that aint England
IanS
O-Level geography obviously wasn't your strong suit, Ian! :-q
According to Ian...I think England refers to just a single house. ;) :d :d
Cheers - Phil