Reading has officially submitted its City Status bid today, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
It has been designed in consultation with residents, business leaders and the voluntary sector.
Council leader, Cllr Jason Brock said that he is proud to submit the bid and believes that it makes a compelling case for City Status.
“Everybody has their own ideas about what makes Reading so special and we have captured those in the bid document,” he said.
“Our powerful and resilient economy, our rich history, our unrivalled connectivity, our vibrant cultural and arts scene, our glorious diversity, our amazing voluntary sector, and our strides towards zero carbon all come together to create the unique blend.2
Cllr Brock said that he thinks it is important to use the bid to boost plans for “levelling up” the town.
“We know that there are people in some of our communities that do not benefit from [the town’s] success. A successful bid would help open up new opportunities for those residents, particularly in terms of new skills and training opportunities.”
Cllr Brock thanked everyone involved in the bid.
“Over the coming weeks we will be sharing individual testimonies from residents, businesses, partners and the community and voluntary sector about why they think Reading deserves to be a city,” he said. “We are ambitious for Reading and, whatever the outcome, the bid has given us an opportunity to celebrate everything great about it.”
