Reading Still Not A City Yet

The wait goes on for Reading to make the step up from a town to a city, as it lost out to Chemlsford, St Asaph and Perth. Reading Business leaders, community leaders and even transport services such as Reading Taxi companies expressed their disappointment. The town was amongst 25 UK towns which had submitted an application to be bestowed with the honour in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.

Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East commented “This news will come as disappointment to the people of Reading and those and all those who have worked on the bid. Reading is a city in all but name and I will continue to campaign for the best investments to deliver on a vision for our continued prominence as the economic powerhouse of the Thames Valley.

Reading West MP Alok Sharma commented “Of course I am very disappointed to learn that Reading has not been awarded city status but congratulations to the winning towns. I did feel we had an excellent bid being the largest town which is not a city, having very close links to royalty and being an economic powerhouse in the South East”.

Jo Lovelock, Leader of Reading Borough Council, said” working with partners from across the local community, we submitted a very strong bid, highlighting Reading’s excellent credentials as a city in waiting. Whatever the official position, we will continue to behave like a city and to play an increasingly important role in the economic success of the region”. Despite the town’s disappointment of losing the race to city’s status, it will be business as usual for the UK’s largest town. 10 Largest towns in UK Population