Blackburn to bid for city status

Blackburn is to bid for city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, which is leading the campaign, says it will take in lessons from previous bid applications, highlighting the town's economic and cultural strengths and historical links to royalty, both past and present.

Residents, community groups, business representatives and voluntary organisations will be invited to get involved to help create a compelling story which accurately reflects why the town deserves the honour.

Council leader Mohammed Khan said: "We are incredibly proud that we are able to submit a bid on behalf of the town and be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This bid for City Status is an opportunity for us to showcase everything that we already know is great about Blackburn.

“The potential for increased tourism, media, economic impact, skills, jobs and to highlight the array of cultural assets and projects the town delivers is incredibly exciting.

“Many people already mistake Blackburn for a city given its economic strength and connectivity in terms of transport links, its vast and unique cultural offer, including the National Festival of Making and strong sense of historic identity, and of course the fact we have a Cathedral.

“Blackburn’s entry will focus on all of this, with its strong, diverse communities and businesses being the thread that runs through and what makes us really stand out from anywhere else.”

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