Dorchester submits city bid ahead of Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations

Town councillors have backed the move – although one voted against the idea and two abstained at a full council meeting on Monday evening.

Councillors have argued that the status would reflect its importance as county town and the growth it has seen in recent years with the near-completion of the Duchy of Cornwall’s Poundbury estate, the refurbishment of the County Museum and the revamp of the Shire Hall as a new tourist attraction – as well as developments such as Brewery Square.

Said Cllr Robin Potter: “There’s 2,000 years of history in the town and that deserves recognition.”

• READER POLL: Do you think Dorchester should become a city?

The town has applied for city status in the past, a decade ago, but was not selected.

Said Cllr Stella Jones: “Ten or eleven years ago we were not thought good enough, but we’ve got bigger and better since then…it would be good for tourism if we had city status,” she said.

The bids for city status were announced by the Cabinet Office as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s 70th year as monarch. The city status competition is open both to towns and distinct areas. Some senior councillors in neighbouring Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are said to be also considering a bid.

The Poundbury Estate is nearing completion

Each application will have to make a case why they deserve the special status with applications due to close in December this year with recommendations on which will succeed being made to the Queen by government ministers.

Said Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden at the time the contest was announced: “It’s a great opportunity for towns and cities in every corner of the country to showcase their heritage and tell us more about the people and places that make their local area so unique – and a fitting tribute to Her Majesty’s reign in her Platinum Jubilee year.”

Another minister, Chloe Smith, responsible for constitution and devolution said entries were being sought from “vibrant towns and cities with distinct identities, history, and sense of community.”

The title comes with no additional powers and is in name only. The last to gain city status when applications were previously sought in 2012 were one from each of the four nations -  Chelmsford, Perth in Scotland, St Asaph in Wales and Armagh in Northern Ireland.