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Show your support for the Doncaster City Bid

Posted: 17 November 2021

We are going for Doncaster City status, and would be great to have your support.

From Bentley to Bessacarr, Mexborough to Moorends, Stainforth to Sprotbrough and Tickhill to Thorne we know that Doncaster would be a unique city, made up of proud communities and made special by the people who live and work here.

We know that for many of you, pride in your local area and your community is very strong. We also know that our residents want the best for the area, and their families, too.

That’s why we’re going for it. We believe we are special in wanting to be a city of places – our villages and town have their strong identities and perspectives, history and landmarks – and to unite this with city status for the whole borough would, we believe, add another benefit to this great borough.

Achieving City Status would help attract more investment for Doncaster and improve opportunities and life chances for our residents and communities, whilst celebrating our diversity and everything that makes Doncaster so special. This is what we were told during our Doncaster Talks conversations over the last two years by local people who want to see real opportunities and ambition for future generations.

We have until the 8th December to make our case loud and clear.

There would be many tangible benefits to Doncaster if granted city status:

Doncaster is more likely to attract more visitors, which in turn, will improve the tourism offer for local people generating more choice of things to do, where to eat and shop and support local businesses.

Doncaster is more likely to attract greater levels of economic investment, creating new jobs, and further redeveloping and regenerating the borough.

Doncaster is more likely to gather stronger momentum and wider backing for key projects, such as a new hospital proposal, a University and airport station rail link.

Doncaster is more likely to attract key conferences, festivals, and concerts, with nationally recognised artists and a richer program of cultural events.

Doncaster is more likely to create more skilled jobs, allowing more young people to stay, live and work in the area, rather than them moving away to other localities.

Doncaster would gain a stronger voice in shaping both the local, regional, and national agenda to get more of what the borough deserves and to support the delivery of residents’ priorities.

You can show your support for the bid on social media by sharing, liking and posting positive comments on the various council and partner channels who are promoting the bid. Share on social media #GoingForItDN. You can also take the time to talk to others in the town, friends, family and colleagues about the bid and the many reasons that Doncaster should get city status.

Here are just a few of those reasons:

History and Heritage
- Doncaster was founded by the Romans in 71AD, when it was known as ‘Danum’
- It was then listed as one of Britain’s 28 cities (known as ‘Caer-Daun’) in the 9th century by Nennius – author of the Historia Brittonum
- In 1194 Richard the Lionheart granted Doncaster its first charter, followed by a royal markets charter in 1248
- Back in the 18th century, Doncaster Town Centre was a significant stop over point between London and Edinburgh, which created an industry in coach building and horse breeding. It is fitting that the oldest horse racing classic in the world is hosted in Doncaster, the St Leger Stakes that was first held in 1776, with Doncaster Racecourse holding the first aviation meeting in the UK in 1909
- Doncaster is home to the St Leger Stakes – the oldest of Britain’s five horse racing Classics, running since 1776
- The 12th century medieval Conisbrough Castle in Doncaster inspired Sir Walter Scott’s novel, ‘Ivanhoe – the first citation of Robin Hood, meaning Robin Hood came from Doncaster, rather than Nottingham
- Towards the end of the 19th century ‘the Plant’ railway works were established in Hexthorpe where the Stirling Single, Flying Scotsman and Mallard were designed and built.
- Doncaster is a military town, home to a large proportion of Gurkha families and veterans who served in Her Majesty's armed forces.

Size
- Doncaster already has a population of more than 312,000 and so is operating as a city in terms of both population and services that can be accessed here already
- New developments are planned, with a growth target over 18,400 new homes to be built by 2035
- A vibrant local economy worth around £6 billion with over 9,000 businesses

A Connected Place
- Doncaster is home to an international airport, providing connections worldwide
- One of the busiest rail stations on the East Coast Main line is situated in Doncaster, sitting at the confluence of several others and providing fast rail links across the UK. Trains from Doncaster to London are fast and frequent. The journey takes around 88 minutes, with an average of 60 trains a day.
- Doncaster is also located at the centre of the country’s motorway network, making it a Connected City at the heart of the UK, with easy access to and from the M18, M1, A1(M), M62 and the M180
- Eighty-seven percent of the UK population is reachable in four hour’s drive time from Doncaster
- Today, Doncaster is an important town for connectivity with the second largest representation of transport and storage jobs in the Yorkshire and Humber region.