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Archive => Archived Boards => Local Issues => Topic started by: Cyberman on February 11, 2011, 08:15:30 AM

Title: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Cyberman on February 11, 2011, 08:15:30 AM
I notice that Stockport, alongside Bolton, are to bid for City status this year - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12414857 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12414857)

Personally this sounds like an expensive waste of money. I would rather live in a small town where rubbish is collected, libraries and public loos are available and flower beds are not turfed over than see money wasted on this status bid.

I note one of council leader Dave Goddards quoted advantage of Stockport is "Transport links". What planet is he on? Obviously hasnt spent half an hour queuing on the M60 when the Tesco roundabout screws up.

What do others think?
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Dave on February 11, 2011, 09:06:18 AM
Can't see why applying to be designated a city should cost much - surely it's just a few forms to fill in ;-)
One of the best long-distance train services in the UK sounds like good transport links to me (I mean the brilliant London service, with a train every 20 minutes taking just two hours)
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Tricky on February 11, 2011, 09:41:10 AM
There can be no guarantees around the benefits of City Status, but others have seen significant economic impact. Since securing City Status Wolverhampton has benefited from £2bn of inward investment, Newport has secured 2,000 new jobs, Sunderland has seen Nike, Nissan and Barclays locate there and Brighton and Hove’s tourism spend has increased from around £400m to £700m.

from Medway's bid.. http://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6327

Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Harry on February 11, 2011, 11:03:17 AM
I was always taught that areas of human habitation were defined as:

Hamlet - a group of houses
Village - as Hamlet but also with a church or public house
Town - as Village but also including a market
City - as Town but also with a cathedral



Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Tricky on February 11, 2011, 11:10:48 AM
(FROM WIKIPEDIA)

In the twentieth century, it was explicitly recognised that the status of city in England and Wales would no longer be bound to the presence of a cathedral, and grants made since have been awarded to communities on a variety of criteria, including population size.



..According to a Memorandum from the Home Office issued in 1927,

If a town wishes to obtain the title of a city the proper method of procedure is to address a petition to the King through the Home Office. It is the duty of the Home Secretary to submit such petitions to his Majesty and to advise his Majesty to the reply to be returned. It is a well-established principle that the grant of the title is only recommended in the case of towns of the first rank in population, size and importance, and having a distinctive character and identity of their own. At the present day, therefore, it is only rarely and in exceptional circumstances that the title is given.

In fact, a town can now apply for city status by submitting an application to the Lord Chancellor, who makes recommendations to the sovereign. Competitions for new grants of city status have been held to mark special events, such as coronations, royal jubilees or the Millennium.

Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Miss Marple on February 11, 2011, 11:12:54 AM
I notice that Stockport, alongside Bolton, are to bid for City status this year - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12414857 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12414857)

Personally this sounds like an expensive waste of money. I would rather live in a small town where rubbish is collected, libraries and public loos are available and flower beds are not turfed over than see money wasted on this status bid.

I note one of council leader Dave Goddards quoted advantage of Stockport is "Transport links". What planet is he on? Obviously hasnt spent half an hour queuing on the M60 when the Tesco roundabout screws up.

What do others think?

I think you should stand for a local councillor !  I for one would vote for you, what you say makes so much sense  :)
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Mr Marple on February 11, 2011, 02:57:10 PM
Cyberman, for the majority I agree.

I've heard countless people call Stockport "scally central" and I see why.

Bolton's got more chance that Stockport has when applying for City status.
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Dave on February 12, 2011, 04:53:56 PM
Mr Marple, having scallies (aka chavs in the south and neds in Scotland) is no bar to being a city. If it was, London, Manchester and Glasgow wouldn't be cities!
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Mr Marple on February 23, 2011, 11:55:39 AM
Mr Marple, having scallies (aka chavs in the south and neds in Scotland) is no bar to being a city. If it was, London, Manchester and Glasgow wouldn't be cities!

Dave, how often do you go to Stockport? How often do you go to Manchester or any of your stated cities?

Have you compared them thoroughly, have you driven through Stockport and Manchester? Have you stayed in either overnight?
Do you know what makes Manchester far better than Stockport.....................I know I do.

Stockport has very little in comparison to Manchester. Manchester is a buzz with life but the same can not be said for Stockport sadly.
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Tricky on February 23, 2011, 12:25:19 PM
Dave, how often do you go to Stockport? How often do you go to Manchester or any of your stated cities?

Have you compared them thoroughly, have you driven through Stockport and Manchester? Have you stayed in either overnight?
Do you know what makes Manchester far better than Stockport.....................I know I do.

Stockport has very little in comparison to Manchester. Manchester is a buzz with life but the same can not be said for Stockport sadly.

SO.. Mr Marple are you saying that in order to qualify for city status you should have to be comparable/on a par with Manchester..  ?

Personally, I think good luck to Stockport's bid, I hope the attention kick-starts some (needed) improvements and investment.




(Bolton though? really??)


Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: moorendman on February 23, 2011, 01:26:42 PM
looking at your logo, Tricky, I thought that Stockport already qualified for "City" status.  :)
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Tricky on February 23, 2011, 01:37:17 PM
(http://forum.football365.com/images/smiley_icons/5.gif)
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Dave on February 23, 2011, 07:44:05 PM
Mr Marple, I go to Stockport and Manchester all the time, and I am as aware of the difference as you are!

I was simply pointing out the self-evident fact that having a scally population is no bar to being a city. I think that if Stockport's application fails, it will be for other reasons.
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: alison on February 23, 2011, 09:19:36 PM
Oi! I'm not a scally! I live in Stockport, mainly because when I bought a house Marple had priced itself out of the first time buyers market!

But I agree, its not really a city. Oh and Manchester, yep full of life, but some of it you wouldn't want to meet late at night!

Alison
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Miss Marple on February 23, 2011, 10:13:54 PM
I remember when they changed Marple from a village to a Town and thats not all that long ago !
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Dave on February 24, 2011, 08:55:34 AM
Who are 'they', Miss M?
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Harry on February 24, 2011, 10:28:55 AM
Is Marple officially a town? Most people refer to Marple as a village, though with a population of about 23,000 it would be a large village. The entry in Wikipedia repeatedly uses the term village.

Is there an official classification, as there is for a city?
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Miss Marple on February 24, 2011, 11:55:57 PM
Who are 'they', Miss M?
The powers that be  :-\
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Dave on February 25, 2011, 07:26:31 AM
You must mean Stockport MBC, but I don't think local authorities designate areas as towns or villages. AFAIK only cities are subject to any 'official' designation. Good Luck to Stockport (we'll need it ;-)
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: moonforest on February 25, 2011, 07:51:29 AM
Mr Marple, having scallies (aka chavs in the south and neds in Scotland) is no bar to being a city. If it was, London, Manchester and Glasgow wouldn't be cities!

Dave, how often do you go to Stockport? How often do you go to Manchester or any of your stated cities?

Have you compared them thoroughly, have you driven through Stockport and Manchester? Have you stayed in either overnight?
Do you know what makes Manchester far better than Stockport.....................I know I do.

Stockport has very little in comparison to Manchester. Manchester is a buzz with life but the same can not be said for Stockport sadly.

Couldn't agree more. No two visits to Manchester are the same and there are so many aspects of the city to explore, from Affleck's Palace to China Town to museums and the Art Gallery, not to mention the street performers and the outdoor markets, the Buddhist Centre and Manchester Cathedral, the Imax 3d cinema, endless bars and restaurants.....I could go on but the list would be endless!! Stockport......well, you always know what you will find if you go there, the same old same old, no comparison.
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Cyberman on February 25, 2011, 08:22:55 AM
I agree with Dave and Moonforest. I would like to like Stockport as It's my home town, but any areas with character are dying on their feet. Now the Co-op has gone there are no department stores worth visiting (Primark - no thanks!) Hillgate used to have interesting shops but last time I went there many are closed and the rest mostly sex shops. Pubs - some are OK but if you visit in the evening the scally element is a big problem. I partly blame the council - shouldn't have encouraged a huge Tesco which is too far from Merseyway/Hillgate. >:(
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: moorendman on February 25, 2011, 05:20:37 PM
Stockport is a better place then many give it credit for. If you think the town centre at night is "scally central" then you have not spent a lot of time in certain parts of Manchester City centre at nighht.
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: amazon on February 25, 2011, 06:10:26 PM
The Precint needs covering its not inviting when they build the new sainsburys may be a bit better .
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Dave on February 25, 2011, 06:22:18 PM
Amazon, putting a roof on the Merseyway and turning it into a mall isn't going to make it any better! On the contrary....
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: amazon on February 25, 2011, 08:37:50 PM
sugest then what do you do .  ???
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Miss Marple on February 25, 2011, 09:09:47 PM
You must mean Stockport MBC, but I don't think local authorities designate areas as towns or villages. AFAIK only cities are subject to any 'official' designation. Good Luck to Stockport (we'll need it ;-)
NO !!!! not SMBC  it was a report in the messenger (blast from the past)  not but sure exactly when,  I think it may have been when they were twinning towns with other European towns
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Dave on February 25, 2011, 09:38:35 PM
Amazon, I'd flatten the whole precinct and replace with some decent buildings. If Metrolink ever gets as far as Stockport, that might even happen (you can always hope...)

The Messenger as 'the powers that be?? - mmm, a truly surreal thought!
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Barbara on February 26, 2011, 08:42:30 AM
I'm sure I am not alone in finding all these covered shopping malls somewhat claustrophobic!  It is nice to come out of the overheated shops for a few minutes and see that there is still a sky out there - even if it is raining! 
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Rachael on February 26, 2011, 03:56:09 PM
I'm sure I am not alone in finding all these covered shopping malls somewhat claustrophobic!  It is nice to come out of the overheated shops for a few minutes and see that there is still a sky out there - even if it is raining! 

I agree,  The trafford centre is going to cover its Barton Square area I heard .... its the only part of the trafford centre I like because its outside  ... I cant bear covered shopping malls, I get a serious case of cabin fever :(
Title: Re: Stockport bidding for City status
Post by: Duke Fame on February 27, 2011, 12:39:21 AM
I notice that Stockport, alongside Bolton, are to bid for City status this year - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12414857 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12414857)

Personally this sounds like an expensive waste of money. I would rather live in a small town where rubbish is collected, libraries and public loos are available and flower beds are not turfed over than see money wasted on this status bid.

I note one of council leader Dave Goddards quoted advantage of Stockport is "Transport links". What planet is he on? Obviously hasnt spent half an hour queuing on the M60 when the Tesco roundabout screws up.

What do others think?

I agree, a complete waste of money. Can anyone remember the last 3 towns to get city status? Does it make you think of these places as any better than it was before?  al I can name is Sunderland, Sunderland is still a rubbish suburb of Newcastel but they've changed the signs to 'city'.
Title: City status
Post by: amazon on March 14, 2012, 08:19:18 PM
What do you think of Stockport not getting city status .
Title: Re: City status
Post by: Howard on March 14, 2012, 08:50:51 PM
What do you think of Stockport not getting city status .

Certainly Chelmsford and Perth are way more worthy candidates than Stockport. Whoever put money on St Asaph must be very happy but it's still more important historically than Stockport.

I'm not sure what the council spent on trying to get city status but whatever it was it was a waste of money. Seriously, apart from self-important idiots in the council chamber and hierarchy, who cares?

PS, topic now merged into earlier thread for completeness.
Title: Re: City status
Post by: Duke Fame on March 14, 2012, 10:03:38 PM
What do you think of Stockport not getting city status .

Certainly Chelmsford and Perth are way more worthy candidates than Stockport. Whoever put money on St Asaph must be very happy but it's still more important historically than Stockport.

I'm not sure what the council spent on trying to get city status but whatever it was it was a waste of money. Seriously, apart from self-important idiots in the council chamber and hierarchy, who cares?

PS, topic now merged into earlier thread for completeness.

Too right, the inward investment argument is a nonsense. Businesses move and invest in an area because the area has a half decent willing workforce available at a cheap price. Reasonable real estate costs and decent infrastructure.  It's evedent that those who are keen on City status are councillors etc, nobody with a real job.