Could Burnley become a city?

[LoveCurryPies]

The city of Ripon has a population of approximately 17,000 and yet Burnley has more than 78,000.

At David’s in Pembrokeshire only has the smallest city population of 1,600.

Do you think city status would help attract investment? Would city status change people’s perceptions of Burnley?

[Pickles]

Steady on. We got a Primark about a decade after everywhere else. Only just got a Nando's. Baby steps.

[Fazz]

Ripon and St David's both have a cathedral

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Ripon and St David's both have a cathedral

Turf Moor?

[timshorts]

Burnley will be way down the list. Below Harrogate, kendal, and there is only one obvious way to jump the queue. Leave England and form part of Wales or Northern Ireland.

[Dazzler]

Ripon and St David's both have a cathedral

11 Cities in England do not have a Cathedral.

[Bosscat]

Ripon and St David's both have a cathedral

Blackburn has a cathedral its not a city.

So why can't Burnley become a City without a cathedral perhaps we should have a word with Charlie down in Buck House, as he is a number one Claret perhaps he could bestow Cityship (or whatever its called) on Burnley

[LoveCurryPies]

Harrogate being a spa town should push for Royal status.

[Dazzler]

If we were to become a City, beer prices would likely rise by 25%. so it's a no from me.

[Goalkeeper]

Why would a small, poor town want to become a city? There would be less financial investment for attracting new business or industry.

[gawthorpe_view]

The big downside to being a city is that you get an inner city.
And you really don't want one of them.

[Dazzler]

The big downside to being a city is that you get an inner city.
And you really don't want one of them.

Ripon, Stirling, St Davids, Inverness?

[Clovius Boofus]

We were a boomtown at the height of the Industrial Revolution, and we didn't become a city - we sure aren't going to become one now.

[ClaretTony]

The city of Ripon has a population of approximately 17,000 and yet Burnley has more than 78,000.

At David’s in Pembrokeshire only has the smallest city population of 1,600.

Do you think city status would help attract investment? Would city status change people’s perceptions of Burnley?

Ripon & St David’s are both cathedral cities. They were awarded city status only because of their cathedrals. I don’t think that would happen now.

[The Shire Claret]

We were a boomtown at the height of the Industrial Revolution, and we didn't become a city - we sure aren't going to become one now.

Never want it to be a City but just to wanna say - I think Burnley is having a bit of a boom now and think it’s only getting better

[FCBurnley]

Nowt wrong wi bein a good onnest ard workin Town !

[BurnleyFC]

It’s probably big enough to be a city in a fair few European countries but has no chance of becoming a UK city in our lifetime.

[timshorts]

Ripon & St David’s are both cathedral cities. They were awarded city status only because of their cathedrals. I don’t think that would happen now.

That, combined with their being nice places. St asaph made it too. A bit of cutesy heritage helps.

On the other hand, much bigger places keep failing - reading, blackburn, Swindon, Guildford. There's an obvious link between them.

[GetIntoEm]

The big downside to being a city is that you get an inner city.
And you really don't want one of them.

Our town centre is just as bad. Dreadful people

[FCBurnley]

That, combined with their being nice places. St asaph made it too. A bit of cutesy heritage helps.

On the other hand, much bigger places keep failing - reading, blackburn, Swindon, Guildford. There's an obvious link between them.

None of them have teams in premier League ?

[TheFamilyCat]

The big downside to being a city is that you get an inner city.
And you really don't want one of them.

Inner City Life
Inner city pressure

[martin_p]

Has it made any difference to Preston?

[RammyClaret61]

No Cathedral? Don’t Liverpool have a spare one?
Im sure they’ve mentioned it once or twice.

[Juan Tanamera]

Anyone remember when Preston became a city and radio Blackburn announced on April fools Day that the club was going to drop 'North End' from the club name and replace it with 'City'
The natives were restless that day.

[Sutton-Claret]

I seem to remember Bolton being on the brink of city stature being the largest town in England..... When they get it we'll be 10 years behind. Or we could just build a Cathedral on the Keirby hotel site.

[ClaretAndJew]

You don’t need a cathedral to be a city.

[GetIntoEm]

I seem to remember Bolton being on the brink of city stature being the largest town in England..... When they get it we'll be 10 years behind. Or we could just build a Cathedral on the Keirby hotel site.

I think it's Huddersfield. Biggest town in Europe

[Woodleyclaret]

We've got Stonyholme the kids at school used to refer to it as the Bronx does that not count as inner city?

[Mayoclaret]

I'm fairly sure I remember that many years ago (early 70's?) the programme used to have a line in it each week "Burnley - The only town team in Division 1". Can anyone recall this or is my age playing tricks on me? Think there was some debate at the time around Derby's status - all the same I recall that we were possibly unique and competing equally with the "big boys". Will always be a proper "town" for me. UTC

[ecc]

The problem is whether you're talking solely Burnley. The census results often put Padiham with Burnley in the same way as Blackburn goes with Darwen. If you then add Nelson, Brierfield, Colne, Barrowford with Padiham the "Burnley built-up" area amounts to 149,000.

If you ask someone from Colne where they come from - I was born there - they will say Colne and not Burnley unless talking to someone outside the area.

There are so many definitions of town/city populations. It's somewhat confusing.

[ChrisG]

Most countries don't have a real distinction between a town and a city, and it's pretty arbitrary in the UK how it is decided.

Not sure it makes any difference to outside investment in the same way as being near a motorway or airport would

[ArmchairDetective]

Anyone remember when Preston became a city and radio Blackburn announced on April fools Day that the club was going to drop 'North End' from the club name and replace it with 'City'
The natives were restless that day.

Brilliant

[Casper2]

Padiham has a beach , so should be classed as the riviera of the North

[ChrisG]

Padiham has a beach , so should be classed as the riviera of the North

Lost all chances of city status when the Britannia pub shut down I reckon.

[Bezbfc01]

We’ve got a flannels

[Clovius Boofus]

The Keirby should be enough to grant us city status. Anyone from outside the area would agree as soon as they clapped eyes on the stunning piece of architecture that has cheered the very hearts of Burnley folk for over 60 years.

[pureclaret]

I'm fairly sure I remember that many years ago (early 70's?) the programme used to have a line in it each week "Burnley - The only town team in Division 1". Can anyone recall this or is my age playing tricks on me? Think there was some debate at the time around Derby's status - all the same I recall that we were possibly unique and competing equally with the "big boys". Will always be a proper "town" for me. UTC

Yes you are quite right I worked at the company who printed the programme , and may have got the odd free one with Only town team in the Division 1 on the front cover from 1976/77 season

[pureclaret]

I am aware that it used to be that you needed to have a Cathedral but that was when Henry was a boy or there abouts But these days it may because a town has a very large population, that's the number of people living there, or because it has an interesting history or culture

Weavers triangle any one King Charles spent time there

[Rowls]

Can Burnley become a city?

Yes. We just need to get on the list, apparently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whqs8v1svyo

[mikeS]

Yes you are quite right I worked at the company who printed the programme , and may have got the odd free one with Only town team in the Division 1 on the front cover from 1976/77 season

Burnley were relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1975-76 season. Ipswich Town were also in Division one that season and in 1976-77 and the only town club in the league that year.

[dougcollins]

Can you just build a cathedral?

Do you need religious dispensation, or just planning permission?

[Rowls]

Maybe our cathedral could be where the Keirby currently is?

[dougcollins]

Maybe our cathedral could be where the Keirby currently is?

Perhaps just add a few spiky bits to The Keirby?

[ecc]

Can you just build a cathedral?

Do you need religious dispensation, or just planning permission?

I suspect you need to write to The Vatican or the COE.

[fanzone]

Got to be the front runner for city of mixed culture.

[Devils_Advocate]

Burnley does well to survive as a town. If it weren't for the football club the place might as well be burnt to the ground as it has nothing else to offer

[TheFamilyCat]

Burnley does well to survive as a town. If it weren't for the football club the place might as well be burnt to the ground as it has nothing else to offer

Downgrading to a village may actually be more beneficial.
Grass over Charter Walk as the green.
Rebrand the Brun as a babbling brook.
How many villages have a Premier League team? What a selling point.

[Rowls]

Downgrading to a village may actually be more beneficial.
Grass over Charter Walk as the green.
Rebrand the Brun as a babbling brook.
How many villages have a Premier League team? What a selling point.

That would be a disaster - Villages never have enough parking space.

[Devils_Advocate]

Could rename the town from Burnley to New Barley Village

[TheFamilyCat]

That would be a disaster - Villages never have enough parking space.

The only village with a Premier League team and a multistorey. It's getting better.