Taunton considers city status for growth, spurred by MP Gideon Amos. Focus on jobs and investment; council prioritizes community.
Gideon Amos, Taunton’s MP, wants it to think big. He thinks Taunton should act like a city. Towns gain city status through competitions. Having a cathedral used to matter. A university could also help a town become a city.
The last contest was in 2022 for the Jubilee. Eight places became cities back then. King Charles’ Silver Jubilee is coming in 2047. Southend got city status after David Amess died.
Taunton lacks a cathedral, which is important. Yet, it has University Centre Somerset. It also has a newer Taunton Town Council now.
Somerset has two cities: Bath and Wells. Bath has no cathedral but is pretty big. Wells lacks a cathedral and is fairly small.
Amos desires more jobs and investments for Taunton. He wants better transport links too. He wishes its cultural scene to grow, too. Bigger events could happen in Wellington.
Being a city opens doors to other contests. One is the UK City of Culture competition. The winner gets government money for improvements. Bradford is City of Culture in 2025.
The MP likes Taunton’s location among hills. Great schools and the river Tone are there. He thinks it is the best place to live.
Taunton Town Council is focused on residents. They stated that serving the community matters most. The town or city label doesn’t greatly concern them. They want a vibrant county town. It should welcome people towards a good future.