The team have departed to head to London to submit Reading ‘s City Status Bid. The team comprising Councillor Deborah Edwards, Tim Smith Chairman of Reading CIC UK and Reading’s Youth MP 16 year old Faye Gobbi left Reading to Journey to London to submit Reading’s Bid.
The competition for City Status is unprecedented, with over 35 towns in the UK vying for the award in which just 1 town will be awarded City Status early next year as part of Her Majesties Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.
As we have highlighted this week, there are numerous reasons why Reading stand a good chance in winning this much converted award, but the main 3 in my eyes are:
1. Size and Importance to its region:
- Largest urban area of its region with a catchment of 1.7 million
- Transport hub for South of England
- Effectively Capital of Royal County of Berkshire – Which has no City in the county
- Close links to Royalty, from the Henry 1 founding the Abbey in 1121 to the Kate Middleton today (was born and lived in Reading)
- Diverse Community and rich heritage and culture
2. City in Waiting
- Investing heavily in the future and infrastructure with the £860 Million revamp of Reading Train Station, The construction of “Reading Gateway”, and many large Brownfield urban regeneration projects not forgetting the Oracle and Reading as a key shopping and economic designation in the south.
- World Class Education Facilities with Reading University, which is a research intense University.
- Home to top sporting teams such as Reading Football Club (The Royals), London Irish, Reading Hockey Club, Reading Rockets (Basketball) and also host to one of the biggest Music Festivals in the UK, The Reading Festival.
3. Importance to UK Economy
- One of the lowest unemployment rates in the whole of Europe and a high concentration of skilled worked.
- It isn’t reliant on one sector, but lets forget it heads up the UK’s Silicon Valley
- Commercial Centre of the Thames Valley and recently voted in the Top 5 of the “Centre for Cities” in City Outlook and marked as a “City to watch” to drive the UK economy out of recession.
- Location chosen by top International Brands such as Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, and Logica CMG due to great transport links and a “Hub of Transport” in the South of England.
These are just some of the tangible reasons why Reading hopes to gain City Status.
But as we have said before, this should not be used as a competition to try and “outdo” other towns in the UK, but this should be embraced as an opportunity for people of Reading to unite and share the rich heritage, culture and people with the world.
Reading needs you, now more than ever to get involved in this City status competition, and boost the towns future for generations to come.
Don’t forget to watch BBC South Today and Support Reading’s City Status bid by registering as a contributor and sharing your stories to help promote Reading. Click here to register now.