The bid for Luton to become a city took another step forward this week as further promotions took place.
At an event held at Luton Hoo hotel on Wednesday, representatives from across the town gave impassioned speeches about why it deserves to be honoured with city status.
The Love Luton campaign features a website (www.loveluton.org.uk), a bus with the logo and sponsors on it, unveiled to the public at the event, and pin badges.
Among the guests were children from 12 schools who were asked to ask questions and to add their messages about why they love the town.
Luton Borough Council hopes achieving the honour would create a similar success and bring employment to the town.
The competition was announced last summer to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Speaking on Wednesday were joint chairmen Lord Bill McKenzie of Luton and Glyn Jones, managing director of Luton Airport, Derek Ludlow the bid’s Business Champion, cricketer Monty Panesar, the bid’s People’s Champion, leader of Luton Borough Council, Councillor Hazel Simmons and Linsey Frostick from Arriva.
Mr Ludlow said Luton, and its residents, needed some sunshine. He said: “Get behind the bid. If we are successful it will bring sunshine.” Lord Mckenzie encouraged people to wear the bid badge to get the message out to everyone in the town.
He added: “There are those who want to besmirch what happens in Luton. But the reality of life in Luton and what actually happens is quite different from that. It is a wonderful place to be part of.” “This bid is not a top down bid. It is a bid by Luton and its residents.” To fund the bid, sponsorshiop has come from businesses including Arriva, BP, Volker Highways, The Mall Luton and Taylor Walton solicitors.
Mr Jones said: “We don’t have lots of public money to spend, what is called a fiscal constraint, which basically means there is not a great deal of money in the public sector.”
Sunderland is estimated to have generated £5 billion since becoming a city in 1992, with the massive economy boost thought to be directly linked to gaining city status.
Luton Borough Council launched its own bid last July at Westminster. It must submit the bid by May 27 and a decision is expected in February 2012.
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