During this week’s Queen’s Speech Debate, Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison has again raised calls to see County Durham awarded City of Culture 2025.
Following the delivery of the Queen’s Speech, which set out 38 new Bills the Government plan to introduce for the upcoming Parliamentary session, helping to ease the cost of living, strengthen our economy and make our streets safer for everyone.
Speaking in the first debate, Dehenna Davison highlighted the success of regional Mayor Ben Houchen, the recent move of civil service jobs from Whitehall to Darlington, and the delivery of over £70m of funding to help deliver the vital infrastructure improvements to the A68 at Toft Hill and repairs to the Whorlton Bridge.
Speaking in the debate, Dehenna said:
“The best way to turbocharge Bishop Auckland and make it one of the best places in which to grow up and thrive is by ensuring County Durham wins UK city of culture 2025. Let me rephrase that, because we do not want to be the city of culture; we want to be the UK’s first ever county of culture. I hope Ministers on the Front Bench today will send this message to the Culture Secretary, because we know what city of Toggle showing location of culture status can do in unlocking opportunities for tourism and advertising that County Durham is open for business.”
With the closing of final round of the City of Culture Bid fast approaching, Davison did not hesitate to again call for the Government to consider awarding County Durham the title. Davison, along with other County Durham MPs are working to secure the City of Culture status and hope to make County Durham the first ever ‘County of Culture’.
