Wrexham granted city status to celebrate Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Wrexham gains city status - but local reaction is mixed, as Ian Lang reports

Wrexham has been granted city status following a competition to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

It joins seven other winners from across Britain and the overseas territories - including Bangor in Northern Ireland, Stanley in the Falklands, and Colchester in England.

The competition for city status has taken place in each of the last three jubilee years, with previous winners including Newport, which became a city in 2002.

A cabinet office spokesperson said becoming a city can provide a "boost" to local communities as well as opening up new opportunities for people who live there.

Research shows that Perth, which was granted city status in 2012 as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, has seen its local economy expand by 12% in the decade since it was granted city status.

But in Wrexham, residents remain fiercely divided over whether becoming a city is a good thing.

"I think it's amazing", one man told ITV Wales reporter Ian Lang.

Another said: "I think they're wasting their time. I think it's a market town and that's how it should be, keeping its heritage."

But these are extraordinary times for Wrexham.

It is also in the running to be named the UK's City of Culture for 2025, after it made the final four of the competition. The winner is expected to be announced later in May.

And in 2021, Wrexham FC made headline news when Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney announced a surprise takeover.

The duo have invested heavily in the club both on and off the field, and it is now just two wins away from a return to the football league, while its women’s team has also had a successful season.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...