City status bid: Poll makes us also-rans (From Gazette)

City status bid: Poll makes us also-rans

8:00pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Local News

IT IS a tale of two would-be cities after Southend and Colchester received very different reviews in their quest to become the country’s newest city.

The towns, along with Chelmsford, are among those vying to become a city as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

But a national survey by YouGov revealed just 2 per cent of people want Southend to gain the coveted status, with Colchester gaining 9 per cent.

Chelmsford received 6 per cent of the vote.

All three Essex entries lagged behind leaders Bournemouth and Reading on 12 per cent.

The winner of the title, the first to be bestowed for a decade, is expected to be announced by the Government in the spring.

Despite Southend’s low score, council leader Nigel Holdcroft said the survey was little more than “harmless fun”.

He added: “It is highly unlikely anyone responding had sufficient detailed information of the towns competing to make a reasoned or balanced choice.

“We remain of the view that, based on the strength of the competition, we remain a front-runner.”

In contrast, Wendy Bailey, who led Colchester’s campaign for city status while vice-chairman of community group Destination Colchester, said she was thrilled at the result.

She said: “That has really brought a smile to my face.

“Colchester will endure whatever happens, but to be sixth on that list is terrific and puts us up there where we should be.”

Mrs Bailey said while other towns met some of the criteria – Middlesbrough and Reading are both very large while Perth attracted the Scottish vote – Colchester “ticked all the boxes”.

She said: “Colchester is the most amazing place to live and visit.

“We have the best of everything – beautiful heritage, wonderful countryside, marvellous villages, sea, sand – the works.”

More than 1,600 people across the country were surveyed, asking them which town most deserved and which town least deserved to become a city.

In both polls, more than a third of people refused to give an answer.