The failed attempt for Reading to obtain city status as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations has been met with indifference from its neighbours.
The town had tried to become a city when nominations opened last year, but was beaten over the line in England by Milton Keynes, Doncaster and Colchester.
People living in the suburban areas outside of Reading Borough, such as Woodley and Earley in Wokingham Borough and Calcot and Purley on Thames in West Berkshire, have expressed indifference at the unsuccessful bid.
In five unscientific polls on local Facebook groups, the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked people whether they were disappointed that Reading did not achieve city status.
Of those who responded, 136 said they were not disappointed, 76 said they were, and 20 said they didn’t care or it didn’t matter.
But what to councillors from the area think?
Labour councillor Andy Croy who was recently re-elected to represent Bulmershe & Whitegates which straddles Earley and Woodley said: “The area is not directly affected by it.
“I think everyone in Wokingham Borough would support the bid to be a city, and it is a shame it didn’t happen.
“We’ve got a pretty pointless way of appointing cities, I’m not sure having a cathedral or having history or having something happen in Medieval times should qualify.
“Cities are areas which have a particular population density with a certain level of services, personally I think Reading should have been designated a city in those terms.
“In any rational way Reading qualifies as a city.
“What most people want is much higher funding for Reading Buses, that sort of thing would really interest people, because there is demand for safe and affordable public transport.”
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He went on to argue against the ‘city making process’ which involves towns applying during celebrations such as jubilee years and the Millennium.
Cllr Croy said: “It’s the whole process. There should be a set of criteria, and if you meet that criteria you should become a city.
“Insisting on this archaic way of doing it, like a favour is being dished out is a bit backwards.
“It’s like waiting for Father Christmas to come along.”
Meanwhile, councillor Norman Jorgensen, a Conservative who represents Maiden Erlegh, appeared indifferent at the news.
The councillor said: “For Reading it would have been good to get city status, but I don’t think it makes much difference.
“I think to people in these parts of Earley that look towards Reading for employment, shopping and transport it may have been a benefit.
“For me it’s not clear how much of a difference it would make. Absolutely Reading is a major transport hub and has major shops, and I would like to see Reading thrive.
“Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell and the surrounding area has so much going for it, it’s buzzing and it will continue to do that with or without city status.”
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This year was Reading’s fourth failed attempt to become a city this century, with other bids occuring in 2000, 2002 and 2012.
It is unclear when the next city making competition will be.
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