Published: 28/07/2010 12:36 -
Updated: 04/05/2011 13:31
Speaker: MP Kelvin Hopkins
At the official launch of the bid for city status in Westminster yesterday, dozens of people came to hear some of the top Lutonians give their support for the campaign.
Above all, a message of community cohesion and the draw for big businesses are what came out of the lunchtime event.
Pledging their backing were both Luton MPs Gavin Shuker and Kelvin Hopkins, Lord Bill McKenzie and Glyn Jones, managing director of Luton Airport.
Lord McKenzie said: “Luton is a city in all but name. Luton’s economy is bucking the national trend with a richly diverse population that shares so much and is proud of our place in the world.
“Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee is a perfect point at which to honour the town’s many achievements and have conferred upon Luton the status that we as a vibrant community already passionately believe is so much deserved.”
Mr Jones said: “City status will bring more jobs, more prosperity, enhanced civic pride and will motivate Lutonians to come together even more as people.
“There can be no greater motivation to bid for city status than the positive effect such an honour would bring to its people.”
Councillor Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton Borough Council, said: “Luton’s time has now come.
“Our parks are national award winners. Our private sector is succeeding despite the harsh economic winds and our regeneration programme is raising our position as a major conurbation within the Eastern and South-Eastern regions of England. Luton has so much to shout about and so much more is planned.”
Kelvin Hopkins, MP for Luton North, said: “In a sense it is our turn this time.
“I’m hoping it will increase the status and attraction of Luton.”
Gavin Shuker, Luton South MP, said: “I moved back to Luton because things were possible. Where together we could forge a better future and Luton has repaid that investment hundreds of times over.
“So many of us here made our homes in Luton.” Cricketer Monty Panesar, who has been named the People’s Champion for the bid, was also at the launch.
He said: “It’s an honour to be involved. It’s just about community in Luton. Last time we just missed out but this time we are in a better place.”
Also named as ‘champions’ of the bid are Sir Alec Jeffreys as the Academic Champion and Derek Ludlow as the Business Champion.
A decision on city status will announced early in 2012.
City status:
• Luton is the forth largest town without city status in the UK
• The last time city status was awarded was in 2002, when five towns were awarded the accolade - Preston, Newport, Stirling, Lisburn and Newry
• The total number of cities in the UK will rise to 66.
• City status is awarded by the Queen.
• In 2012 one town will be awarded city status for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
• Luton previously applied for city status in 2000 and 2002, but neither of these applications were successful.
• Some of the feedback received was that the town did not have enough royal significance or a big enough regional presence.
• If the bid is successful, the town will be known as City of Luton or Luton City.
• Luton Council could become Luton City Council or similar.
• Luton Town FC could become Luton City FC
• Luton is the forth largest town without city status in the UK
• The last time city status was awarded was in 2002, when five towns were awarded the accolade - Preston, Newport, Stirling, Lisburn and Newry
• The total number of cities in the UK will rise to 66.
• City status is awarded by the Queen.
• In 2012 one town will be awarded city status for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
• Luton previously applied for city status in 2000 and 2002, but neither of these applications were successful.
• Some of the feedback received was that the town did not have enough royal significance or a big enough regional presence.
• If the bid is successful, the town will be known as City of Luton or Luton City.
• Luton Council could become Luton City Council or similar.
• Luton Town FC could become Luton City FC
How much will it cost?
Luton Borough Council is spending just £50,000 on backing the town’s city.
The town launched its campaign yesterday at the Houses of Parliament and is one of three fighting to become a city in 2012.
Cllr Roy Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration, explained £15,000 of the money pot has come from private donations and said: “We believe we are spending an awful lot less than our competitors and considering what we are trying to achieve it’s a reasonable amount.
“We want to move into the bigger league and the city status can get us that.
“We want to support the economy. We want to keep people in jobs and create new ones as well.
“Some people have questioned how we can spend £50,000 in a recession, especially when we are cutting jobs.
“The money came from a one-off windfall, we got a rebate from the government.
“It’s really only the equivalent of one or two jobs.”
Luton Borough Council is spending just £50,000 on backing the town’s city.
The town launched its campaign yesterday at the Houses of Parliament and is one of three fighting to become a city in 2012.
Cllr Roy Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration, explained £15,000 of the money pot has come from private donations and said: “We believe we are spending an awful lot less than our competitors and considering what we are trying to achieve it’s a reasonable amount.
“We want to move into the bigger league and the city status can get us that.
“We want to support the economy. We want to keep people in jobs and create new ones as well.
“Some people have questioned how we can spend £50,000 in a recession, especially when we are cutting jobs.
“The money came from a one-off windfall, we got a rebate from the government.
“It’s really only the equivalent of one or two jobs.”
The history of Luton:
• The earliest settlements in the Luton area were at Round Green and Mixes Hill, 250,000 years ago
• 1240 the town is recorded as Leueton
• 1336, much of Luton was destroyed by a great fire
• 1645 royalists entered the town and demanded money and goods
• 1722 first Luton Workhouse was built
• 1767 Luton Hoo was built
• 1801 the population was 3,095
• 1895 Luton Town FC formed
• 1914 the population had reached 50,000
• 1919 original town was destroyed during Peace Day celebrations
• 1938 Luton airport was built
• 1947 The Queen and Prince Philip honeymooned at Luton Hoo
• 1959 M1 joined the town
• 1972 Arndale Centre was opened
• 1997 Luton became a unitary authority
• 2010 third bid made for city status
• The earliest settlements in the Luton area were at Round Green and Mixes Hill, 250,000 years ago
• 1240 the town is recorded as Leueton
• 1336, much of Luton was destroyed by a great fire
• 1645 royalists entered the town and demanded money and goods
• 1722 first Luton Workhouse was built
• 1767 Luton Hoo was built
• 1801 the population was 3,095
• 1895 Luton Town FC formed
• 1914 the population had reached 50,000
• 1919 original town was destroyed during Peace Day celebrations
• 1938 Luton airport was built
• 1947 The Queen and Prince Philip honeymooned at Luton Hoo
• 1959 M1 joined the town
• 1972 Arndale Centre was opened
• 1997 Luton became a unitary authority
• 2010 third bid made for city status
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