A COMPETITION for local authorities to apply for city status for their town has launched to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee next year.

The Civic Honours competition will see rare awards grant winning towns with city status, the Cabinet Office has announced.

Local authorities the UK will be able to enter the competition and make a case for why the area deserves to be bestowed with one of these honours.

Colchester has applied to become a city before, but failed despite the town holding the title of Britain's first Roman city.  

 In AD49 Colchester was the first place in Britain to be given the status of a Roman Colonia.

Gazette:

The nation is set to celebrate the monarch’s milestone during a special four-day Bank Holiday weekend from June 2 to June 5 2022.

On February 6 2022, the Queen will have reigned as monarch for 70 years – the first time a British sovereign will have been on the throne for seven decades.

For the first time, the city status competition will also be open to applications from the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, according to the Cabinet Office.

In addition to the city status competition, existing cities in the UK can enter a parallel competition for a Lord Mayoralty, or Lord Provostship as it is known in Scotland.

This is a distinction given to a small number of long-established and important cities, entitling the city’s Mayor, or Provost, to be known as the Lord Mayor or Lord Provost during their term of office.

The competition will close on December 8 this year and all valid entries will receive individual consideration on their merits, before recommendations are made to the Queen by ministers.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “It’s a great opportunity for towns and cities in every corner of the country to showcase their heritage and tell us more about the people and places that make their local area so unique – and a fitting tribute to Her Majesty’s reign in her Platinum Jubilee year.”

Constitution and devolution minister Chloe Smith added: “The Civic Honours competition is an opportunity to promote your hometown and win an honour for it that will last for all time.

“I encourage entries from local authorities in every part of the UK, from vibrant towns and cities with distinct identities, history, and sense of community.”

Chelmsford in Essex, Perth in Perthshire and St Asaph in Denbighshire gained city status as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Do you think Colchester should gain city status?