Goole Town Councillors have unanimously agreed to apply for city status.
The decision to apply in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 was voted for at the latest public meeting on Thursday, July 1. Following an appeal from local businessman, Howard Duckworth, councillors agreed that, while there’s no financial grant awarded if successful, the application would be beneficial to the town through publicity alone. Mr Duckworth said the previous application lodged in 2012 through the Diamond Jubilee Competition “indirectly has put Goole on the map” after claiming the town received more than £350,000 of free publicity, including from his own appearances on BBC, ITV and the American news channel CNN. He predicts with the latest investment from the likes of Siemens and Beal Homes, the town has an even better shot at clenching the status.
Councillor Keith Moore supported the proposition, calling it a “no brainer”, adding, ‘We’ve everything to gain and nothing to lose”. Mayor of Goole, Cllr Chris Bailey, said: “I’m glad I have egg on my face because I didn’t understand exactly what it entailed and the potential it could bring to Goole. “Following that and the publicity for Goole, it’s expanded so much so hopefully, fingers crossed, we can replicate that yet again and bring even more industries, jobs and prosperity to Goole itself. “That’s what we’re all working for, to make it an even greater place than what it is.” The 2012 Diamond Jubilee Competition saw three winners selected from the 25 applicants: Perth, Scotland, Chelmsford, England and St. Asaph in Wales. Based on the 2011 Census, St Asaph had just 3,355 residents, making it the second-smallest city in Britain following St Davids, Wales, with 1,600 residents.
Goole Town Councillors have unanimously agreed to apply for city status. (09-07-41 SU)
