Setback for St Austell as city bid nets 5% support
A Cornwall clay town's bid to become a city has been hit by a further setback after receiving less than five per cent of support in a national vote.
St Austell is battling 25 other towns for the honour of being upgraded as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year.
-
Last month the WMN reported how an exhibition publicising the bid attracted overwhelmingly negative feedback, with only one favourable public response.
Now, to rub salt in the wound, St Austell received just five per cent of votes in a poll which asked which town was most deserving of the accolade.
The results of the YouGov survey put the Cornish location on a par with the Scottish border town of Dumfries.
Bournemouth and Reading topped the poll, while the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Croydon were deemed to be the least worthy of an upgrade in the eyes of the public.
In January those behind the St Austell bid were left "disheartened" by negative feedback from an exhibition at the town's library.
One person wrote in the comments book: "I've never heard a better way of wasting our money – one of the daftest ideas yet," whilst another blasted it as "delusions of grandeur for a select few."
There was only one vaguely positive response, saying: "Why not, what have we got to lose?"
But supporters yesterday remained upbeat about the Jubilee bid. Poltair ward Cornwall councillor Steve Double said: "Considering this was a national vote, and we're much smaller than most of the other shortlisted towns, I actually think five per cent is pretty good.
"St Austell has suffered from having a very negative view of itself. This was an opportunity to think about what we have that is good – to celebrate and promote it."
The announcement is expected to be made in time for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June.
Mr Double added: "Giving it to Reading or Bournemouth would be the obvious choice, but if they want to do something different and think out of the box, St Austell will deliver. We'll keep fighting."
The most recent new city statuses to be handed out heralded the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 and included Preston in England and Newport in Wales.
3 Comments
by trelawneyone
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:05PM
“why not st, austell? it has as much to offer if not a lot more than the places which at the moment seem to be in more favour. st, austell has a great history what with tin mining china clay & many other things the nearby coast & villages are second to none. the future planning re:- eco towns etc are very exciting and hopefully will get off the ground asap.but here lies the crunch when ever has cornwall been favoured ahead of elsewhere? as a cornishman and a born st, austellite i say go for it you deserve to be granted city status don,t worry about the moaners & groaners they always seem to have the time to write negative statements. good luck dg”
by homerjay
Friday, February 10 2012, 7:06PM
“City status, Cllrs Trewhella and Double's baby just like the Blight on our Beach 'development'.
Let's hope the electorate remember you both on election day and do the right thing.”
by oldjamaica
Friday, February 10 2012, 4:48PM
“This Just goes to show what a nonsense this whole venture is.Im sure Steve Double is mega disappointed.looks like the rest of the country is not convinced either.
As for "what we have that is good " well at £2.40 for two hours it sure aint cheap parking.
there is some good news for us St.austell residents though we have a new town centre- its called TRURO.”