Councillors have agreed to support a bid, as part of a UK-wide competition, to make Newport a city.
Joining the likes of Ballymena, Dunfermline and Southend-on-Sea, the Isle of Wight Council has now expressed its intention to submit a bid for Newport, the county town, to become a city following almost unanimous support at the full council meeting on Wednesday.
Cllr Geoff Brodie said the more he thought about the idea, the more it was a good one and there was too much talking the Island down.
As part of the celebrations for Her Majesty’s the Queen Platinum Jubilee next year, a civic honours competition will see Queen Elizabeth grant city status to a number of towns across the UK.
Putting forward the motion, Cllr Martin Oliver has been leading the charge for the bid and said it would be a great accolade if Newport were to be given city status and bring much investment into the town.
He said celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign was a truly historic moment for the country and it was only right to celebrate that while inspiring the next generation to build back better from Covid by showcasing the Island’s heritage.
Speaking of the royal history of Newport, including Prince Albert laying the first brick of Newport Minister, Cllr Steve Hastings Her Majesty would look kindly on the town and if Queen Victoria could give her approval, so could Queen Elizabeth.
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, the ward representative for Newport Central, said it was not her first thought when the jubilee announcements came through but was an example of how the Island needed to believe in Newport more, as there was so much negativity around the own.
Cllr Jones-Evans said they needed to up their game as being a city would bring enormous benefits and a new sense of pride.
However, the only councillor against the bid, Cllr Richard Quigley said residents expected councillors to use their time wisely — discussing pressing issues like the Floating Bridge — and this bid was in danger of making the council look like it was ‘fitting wing mirrors on a rocket’.
He said if it were an issue about funding, the authority would better use its time by asking Island MP Bob Seely to explain where the promised £7m Island Deal is.
The motion was passed with all but two votes, one against and one abstention.
A bid will now be created and submitted on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council, Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council and the Shaping Newport Steering Group.
Is that a spelling mistake?
shouldn’t Sh replace the C ?
Welcome to the Monty pythons flying Circus ! Aka the IW county council !
Another idiotic stupendously embarrassing infuriating waste of taxpayers money. Stop shi**ing our cash down the drain and start building some decent Island infrastructure that we actually NEED y’know like more hospital capacity, more carers, more dentists, doctors, a reliable river crossing etc etc
How much time and money are our council going to spend on this ridiculous idea.
Can anybody name a more run down town lacking any quality shops, no personality and a town that everybody avoids?
And who is going to end up footing the bill? Us as usual. What a load of ********, or in other words, round’uns
Money motivated.
Easier planning so more building and expect a congestion charge very soon.
Can’t see any other benefits for the locals.
Councillors representing the public’s views again…………not
What a joke.. Similar to Polytechnics re-branding as Universities.. or Rwanda as a viable tourist destination. After COVID, city living is unfashionable. Now, the desire is all about being in small towns, villages etc. Cities in 2021 within England mean to many congestion, crime and pollution. Who is thinking up this cr*p?
Good grief!
Newport City?
It’s a rundown town with expensive parking; traffic either thundering or crawling through it; a good third of the shops boarded up; litter everywhere; a dodgy place to be after dark; the bus station and near MacDonalds a no-go area after dark and some hideous looking shop front signs.
The very seedy and neglected IW Council building at the bottom of the town adequately sums up Newport’s status – a third rate small town with little to attract a City status.
Doesn’t a city have to have a cathedral?
Not any more, that was when things had meaning.
Unfortunately not. It is just another excuse to swamp the island with people from the mainland.
Just waiting for the fixed link now.
They call it progress, I call it cultural suicide.
It would make a lot of sense if we started using equivalent conditions defining the expression “city” as they have on the continent. The status “city” is given to places that have in excess of 100,000 inhabitants, though I seem to remember that the original figure was 500,000. Either way, at least this would ensure that a “city” is a sizeable place of some importance.
Doesn’t a city have to be a place people want to visit?
It will have a cathedral there going to stand the floating bridge on end right in the middle of the town
More waste of council money
Our money
Yes they will just put the council tax again . O sorry they do that anyway
Yeah great. A city of closed shops!
Well, Newport’s unofficial name is already called “Chav City”.
Not against Newport Becoming a city, but how will that attract investment, and from whom ? and for what ? Dont think anybody talks Newport down, its on its own downwards spiral. Not helped by the council and landlords. The approval of out of town mega stores, Sky high rents and taxes. Parking meters every ware. And yes covid was another nail in the coffin. Luv to think promoting Newport to a city will help cure its struggles, cant see it I’m sad to say
I can remember when Newport had nothing of interest in shops except for Etam and Happy Daze, and before that, there was a very nice old fashioned cake shop up there, (Wray’s?), and Ryde was much better for shops, then I believe the council at the time got together and said let’s build Newport up & run Ryde right down. And that is what happened for a few years. Newport was a joy with good shops, then in recent times loads closed all within quick succession of each other, Topshop gone now, along with BHS, Claire’s, Monsoon, Poundstretcher, Thorntons, even Peacocks has gone from Newport. Ryde now has better shops, even though a *hole.
This may look like an insignificant story,but City status is a way of increasing the council tax.
I thought councillors were elected to represent their residents, this one gets elected then does exactly what it wants. Let’s have a referendum!
Wherever did you get that idea, Jonty! Councillors and our inglorious Government now only represent their own interest. As to an official referendum – that would of course have to be paid for – by you and me! The comments on here are a far better referendum – Councillors should be made to read them out loud to each other every morning!
Umm I may have lost the plot but wouldn’t councillors of a city get extra wages ?
Why else do you think they are proposing this!
Haven’t the council got anything better to do, like helping the people of the island.
And the lunacy continues…. what the hell is next, Newport, Isle of Wight, City of (Sub)Culture.
Newport has nothing to offer or attract new investment, I call it a robbing town / city lol full of expensive parking and the very few shops that are there are very expensive .
supposed they got to be to try and cover the cost of the overcharging council to line their pension pockets ,oh and their mistakes ,floating bridge for one
How incredibly stupid
no it won’t bring investment to the town – investors look for opportunity and are forward looking – newport is on a downward spiral, investing in that town, as that is what it is, is like trying to catch a falling knife, you will get hurt and the knife (your investment) will still hit the floor and be ruined.
How can we become a city with all the empty shops on the island and a unreliable expensive ferry service. Waste of money.
What a load of rubbish
Best laugh I’ve had in ages !
A joke like the fools that run the council – one word Speechless!
Last council was poor, but this lot ignoring real problems. All there pet projects will make poll tax increases huge. Obviously the many who take,
but don’t contribute, won’t be troubled.
This has got to have something to do with more available funding. The Isle of Wight Council will approve anything that gets them more funding.
And with all the building going on, this Island will be renamed, Wight City.
Why oh why is this happening ? What other daft ideas are in the pipeline ? Is there someone who is paid to to come up with stupid ideas ? Wonder what their job title is ?
Minister for funny walks.
What the hell is the matter with this council? Still its not their money so why should they care.
I want city status for St Lawrence.
Alot more than a city status is needed. Who is actually going to flock to this city to make your money you all crave? More wasted money. You managed to mess up a flowing traffic system with one that’s alot slower. You seem to have no concerns over the infrastructure of this island. Only the urgency to fill it. Maybe that is a case of line those pockets as soon as you can before your turn in the ring is done. Just a little question. How much does the council get as a back hander to let the festival go ahead with all the commotion of shutting businesses closing residential roads. The residents of the island are scr ewed..