AUSTIN SIGNS UP TO CITY STATUS BID

Dudley MP Ian Austin has added his name to an e-petition in support of Dudley’s bid to become Britain’s newest city - and issued a call for people from across the borough to add their support by signing the petition.

The petition has been organised by Dudley Chamber of Commerce and states:

“Together, we are committed to the creation of a vibrant and prosperous city where people are proud to live, learn and work and where businesses are keen to invest.  We are ambitious about Dudley’s future and proud of its past.”

In 2012 one borough in Britain will be given the honour of city status to mark the Queen’s Jubilee and Dudley is among 26 places in with a chance.

Austin has thrown his weight behind the council’s campaign and is urging local people to back the bid too, saying it could raise Dudley’s profile and help bring much-needed investment to the area.

Ian Austin MP said:

“I’m backing the Chamber of Commerce campaign because the petition says that we have to be “ambitious about Dudley’s future and proud of its past” and I couldn’t agree more.

“Dating right back to the Doomsday Book, through the civil war, with our castle, Priory and historic town centre, we boast a heritage other cities could only dream of. Our town lit the spark that fired the Industrial Revolution and changed not just Dudley and the Black Country, but Britain and the whole of the world

“That history needs to be an inspiration as we attract new industries and new jobs for the future. We need higher skills, first class schools and health services. We need more leisure facilities to keep people fit and healthy and give young people something to do. The city status bid can be the catalyst for these changes.”

NOTES

People can sign the e-petition at www.dudley.gov.uk up until the deadline of February 10 and the government has announced the winners of the city status bid will be named in the first half of 2012.