Warwick to bid for city status as part of Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations

Warwick is bidding to become a city as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year.

The national Civic Honours competition will see the Queen confer city status on one or more towns in 2022.

At a recent meeting, Warwick Town Council voted to take part in the contest with the aim of seeing Warwick become known as a city.

If successful, the town will become Warwickshire’s only city in the year that the Queen marks 70 years of her reign.

Councillor Noel Butler, deputy leader of Warwick Town Council, said: "The Civic Honourscompetition is the perfect opportunity for Warwick to showcase its civic pride, our historic and cultural identity, in addition to being a great place to work and live.

He added: "We have the castle, a magnificent church, many historic buildings, a racecourse, beautiful parks, a great cultural backdrop, and a rich history that has many connections to the Royal Family.

"So why shouldn’t this be recognised by becoming a city alongside some of the best-known places in the UK?"

"Warwick may be relatively small in size but is big in ambition."

Warwick Town Council has also been backed by local organisations including WarwickCastle, the Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick Chamber of Trade and Warwick SchoolsFoundation in a bid to ensure Warwick stands the best chance possible of achieving city status.

Nick Blofeld, Divisional Director at Warwick Castle, said: "We are delighted to back Warwick Town Council in its efforts to gain city status.

"Warwick has a rich history that we’re proud to be a part of and always want to see recognised on an international stage.

There are no costs required to enter the competition and the Government has told applicants not to undergo unnecessary expense in preparing the applications, which will be judged on content and not presentation.

Government ministers will recommend which town or towns should be given the honour of city status and the final decision will be made by the Queen herself.

The Council will complete the written application by the competition’s deadline in early December.

If Warwick is successful it will become one of the smaller UK cities – but not the smallest.

There would be 11 of the current cities that are smaller than the population of Warwick.