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County Durham hopeful as judges visit region
Ambitious plans to drive growth , spark creativity and celebrate the extraordinary people and places of County Durham was showcased to the UK City of Culture 2025 judging panel in May .
An exciting and immersive timetable of activities was arranged for the judges ’ eagerly anticipated visit , which follows the shortlisting of Durham ’ s countywide bid in March .
County Durham is vast and varied and the aim is to shine a light on the county in all its guises , while demonstrating how the pioneering and inclusive cultural programme being developed for 2025 would reenergise the entire region .
Historic Durham , wild Durham and industrial Durham were all represented during the visit , with the judges splitting into groups to allow as much of the county as possible to be showcased .
The Durham 2025 campaign is being driven by Durham County Council , Durham University and Culture Durham , a partnership of more than 20 cultural organisations from across the county .
On show – culture judges visit New Durham Working Men ’ s Club alongside representatives from the Durham 2025 campaign and Sir Phil Redmond .
Cllr Amanda Hopgood , leader of Durham County Council , said : “ Durham is such a diverse county and , while it ’ s impossible to show the judges everything during their visit , we really want to give them a flavour of the variety that exists here .
“ It ’ s also important for us that the judges met the people who will benefit if County Durham is named UK City of Culture 2025 .
“ Whether that be our communities who will be able to access exciting new opportunities or our businesses , which would benefit from the increased visitor numbers our 2025 programme would attract .”
In March , County Durham was one of just four locations to make it to the shortlist . The winner is due to be announced later this month .
If County Durham secures the title , it would bring colossal social and economic benefits to the entire region .
This includes creating thousands of jobs , boosting the creative and visitor economies by millions of pounds , empowering residents and helping to improve community wellbeing .
A decision is expected late May .
County Durham bids for Great British Railways HQ
County Durham ’ s illustrious rail heritage , thriving train building industry and pioneering cultural and economic ambitions make it the ideal home for the Great British Railways ( GBR ) headquarters .
That is the message from Durham County Council , which has submitted a bid to house the new national rail body in County Durham in conjunction with its quest to be UK City of Culture 2025 .
The government launched a competition to identify a location outside of London for the GBR headquarters , as part of its levelling up agenda .
The winning location will benefit from investment and the creation of highly skilled jobs , helping to spread opportunities across the UK .
Towns and cities with strong links to
railways have been encouraged to enter the competition and , for County Durham , there is no shortage of connections .
Not only is it home to Shildon , the world ’ s first railway town , but it is a major player in the future of the industry , with the next generation of high-speed trains being built at Hitachi Rail Europe ’ s Newton Aycliffe factory .
PUTTING US ON THE MAP
Our wonderful area is in the national spotlight for all the right reasons as County Durham continues to put forward its case to be named UK City of Culture for 2025 .
One of only four places to make the shortlist , members of the judging panel recently visited several locations across the county to see for themselves exactly why there can be only one winner . For me , it ’ s a no-brainer . For a long time , I ’ ve been a passionate advocate for this area and all its splendour , but now I am one of tens of thousands of people who are giving their full backing to the bid .
We ’ re proud of what County Durham has to offer and why shouldn ’ t we be ?
From the history-steeped beauty of Durham city itself and the rejuvenated , cosmopolitan Seaham with its iconic ‘ Tommy ’ sculpture , to our stunning coastlines , vast countryside and the global innovation hotspot that is NETPark , County Durham really does tick all the boxes .
Being named UK City of Culture 2025 would not only endorse the pioneering , transformational work going on throughout the county , but would also be the perfect driver to bring investment and jobs to the region as a whole .
It really would be a game changer and I do hope the judging panel have seen enough to convince them that County Durham is the right , and only , choice for the prestigious status .
Paul Wellstead Developer , Spectrum Business Park Chair , East Durham Business Network
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