Jewel in the crown of the north west

The title will go to just one town to mark the year 2000 and so far there are 30 bidders.

Warrington - City of Peace will be the town's theme and the hope is that this will give the bid the edge over competitors.

The theme is not just linked to peace with Northern Ireland but also to the peace of the town itself, the harmony between people of different nationalities who live here, the business partnerships which have brought prosperity to the town and the low crime rate.

From now until the bid goes in on September 1, will be supporting the work of the borough council in its efforts to make Warrington a city.

WARRINGTON is the second most profitable town in Britain, the third fastest growing town in the UK, a focus for peace since the l993 IRA bombing, a magnet for hundreds of top international companies and home of the new North West Regional Development Association. These are just a few of its accolades.

"The jewel in the crown" of the north west is how former MP Lord Hoyle of Warrington has described the town which he represented for 16 years and included in his title when he went to the House of Lords.

He said: "I fully support the bid. It is very important that Warrington does get city status. It is a growth area and an entity in a way that possibly some of the other contenders might not be.

"Because of the part it has played in the peace process, whatever happens in Ireland, Warrington is a logical choice. I think we are in with a good shot.

"I am quite prepared to work with the borough council and put forward my views, and offer the council any help I can in playing my part."

The Mayor of Warrington, Councillor Tom Swift, said he was pleased to be holding office at such a unique time for the town.

"Since the decision was made to go for city status, the Mayoress and I have sensed a real feeling of excitement from many of the people we have met as part of our duties," he said.

"A tremendous amount of work is being done to put our bid together. Work is also under way to ensure that a feeling of civic pride worthy of a city continues, right up the time of the bid and beyond.

"Having lived in the town all our lives, we have seen for ourselves how it has grown. That growth is down in many ways to the people who live and work in Warrington. We have a town we can all be proud of - a town that deserves to be a city."

Warrington based MEP Brian Simpson said he was delighted that the borough council was bidding for city status.

"Warrington can now build on the success and achievements of the unitary council, with its international significance, ie Business Connections, and its regional significance. The International Peace Centre would be a superb alternative to a cathedral."

Mr Simpson said that Warrington would receive more attention in Europe if it became a city, rather than a town, with its inward investment securing more jobs in our region.

"Sunderland is a prime example of this. Since it became a city, European grant aid has been much more forthcoming. The European Union always identifies cities and regions rather than towns when setting the criteria for grant aid. I lend my full support to the bid and wish the borough council the very best of luck in its endeavours."

Warrington is a good place for shopping, services, nice places to live, bring up families and for business.

That's the view of Warrington South MP Helen Southworth, who believes we are in with a good chance with the city status bid. "We have the right kind of community," she said. "It is a stable community. I would like us to see ourselves as a city like Chester or York. We don't want to be mega-big. The city status bid gives us a great opportunity to raise debate about what kind of place we want to be."

Helen is pleased about the way the town is protecting open spaces and urban areas and also our heritage.

She believes that the town is moving barriers in the terms of building relationships and working together. "This is what the peace process is all about. Warrington has taken a lead in terms of peace and it is important to recognise this. It reflects that we are particularly good at forming partnerships."

Warrington North MP Helen Jones said she would be doing everything possible to support the city status bid.

"It would be a great honour for Warrington and would confirm the town's importance in the north west. The town is the key to economic growth and to providing new jobs. A great number of prestige businesses have chosen Warrington as their base and many more will in the future."

WARRINGTON'S identity as a place of regional strategic status is part of the town's history - and Janice Hayes, community liaison officer at Warrington Museum, believes that this will add weight to the bid.

Said Janice: "The town has always been of regional and national importance as a "crossover town", a gateway to the region and a key site in the country's communications network.

"Warrington's historical role serves as a symbol for our entry to the new Millennium."

In Roman times Warrington had an almost unique role as an industrial centre, serving both the new Roman settlers and the native population.

In Saxon times the town was the head of an administrative district and would have had a court that kept the peace. "There was evidence at that time that we were planning to develop as a new town. As usual, we were ahead of the game," said Janice.

She pointed out that Warrington has a history of "firsts". The town had the first Sunday school, the first industrial canal, the first industrial steam engine, the first public library and the first museum in a manufacturing town.

A history of firsts

THE yellow rose of peace is to be the logo for Warrington's city status bid. It will become a prominent sight in the town in coming months, on banners, car stickers, T shirts and other promotional material.

The yellow rose was grown specially at the end of the second world war as a national symbol of peace.

Firms asked to support bid

THE borough council is hoping for support for the bid - both verbal and financial - from companies in the town. The bid is likely to cost up to £30,00 in terms of promotional material and the council is hoping that half a dozen companies will come forward with donations of £2,000, to help to fund the campaign. The companies could have their logos on the bid document, plus other publicity.

Support from the public is being sought also. Bob Williams, head of communications at the borough council, who is co-ordinating the city status bid, wants people to write to the Town Hall saying that they are in favour. "We would like as many as possible," said Bob.

The letters will add weight to the town's case when the bid is sent in at the beginning of September and Bob would like them to be in by August 20. Write to: City Status Office, Town Hall, Warrington WA1 IUH

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