Historic UK cities risk losing status amid major shake-up of centuries old tradition
Angela Rayner's sweeping reorganisation of local government in England could strip several historic cities of their centuries-old city status.
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary's plan to scrap two-tier county and district councils in favour of new unitary authorities would mean cities absorbed into larger administrative bodies must establish charter trustees or forfeit their titles and coats of arms entirely.
It is set to come into force in 2028.
This would mean cities absorbed into larger administrative bodies must establish charter trustees or forfeit their titles and coats of arms entirely.
This process would incur substantial legal expenses and require a separate council tax precept of up to £18 per household annually.
Shadow local government minister Gareth Bacon has branded the programme "Labour's constitutional wrecking ball," warning it forces communities with ancient royal charters into a burdensome fight to preserve their identities.
Winchester, a former Roman settlement and one-time capital of both the kingdom of Wessex and Anglo-Saxon England, has held city status since "time immemorial" but now faces being swallowed into a proposed Mid Hampshire council.
Canterbury, whose city council and mayor were established in 1448 under Henry VI, is earmarked for merger into an East Kent authority.
The city received its sheriff in 1461.
Southend-on-Sea, which Queen Elizabeth II elevated to city status just four years ago in honour of murdered MP Sir David Amess, would be folded into South East Essex.
Stoke-on-Trent faces absorption into North Staffordshire, while Chelmsford is destined for a new Mid Essex body.
Gareth Bacon, the shadow local government minister, said: "Angela Rayner is forcing places that have been boroughs and cities for centuries through royal charters to go through a costly and lengthy process to retain that status.
"This is bad news for local people, and bad news for the taxpayers forced to cover the bill."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Massive 1,300-year-old ancient complex discovered near biblical city linked to St Peter
- ‘Olympic-scale’ swimming pool unearthed in ancient city after 2,000 years
- Muslim group hits back at protests against plans to turn Grade II-listed pub into mosque claiming boozer 'only had three regulars'
Winchester city council leader Martin Tod said: "We'll do whatever it takes at our end to continue with city status, but we can't fix it on our own and we need them to work with us as well."
Architect and historian Ptolemy Dean pointed to Rochester, which permanently lost its city status after failing to renew it during an earlier restructuring.
He warned Canterbury, home to England's senior cathedral church, now faces the same peril.
He said: "People resent having these places stripped of their status and history and traditions."
A report prepared by Southend-on-Sea officials starkly warned that without action, "the city status and other charters awarded to the former borough of Southend will fall away and cannot be regained."
Officials in Stoke-on-Trent, whose city status was bestowed by King George V in 1925, have cautioned that restoring the title after the council's abolition would be a "complex and unnecessary bureaucratic undertaking," with a potential gap between the status lapsing and its reinstatement.
Chelmsford council leader Stephen Robinson said he would not want to lose the city's status "on a technicality."
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We recognise the pride, history and identity that sits behind our cities, which is why we will work with areas to make sure city status is preserved following reorganisation."
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
