City Status For Shrewsbury

EDM number 606 in 1999-00, proposed by Paul Marsden on 05/04/2000.

That this House welcomes the Home Office's clarification that applications for city status from a number of English towns, including Shrewsbury, are still being actively considered and that no final decisions have yet been made; believes that Shrewsbury, as the county town of Shropshire, has a distinguished history, including nearby Wroxeter which was the fourth largest Roman city in Britain, the Wenlock Abbey Charter of 901 AD, which referred to the city of Shrewsbury; remembers the establishment of Shrewsbury Abbey in 1083 and Shrewsbury Castle in 1086; notes that the Edward I Parliament met in Shrewsbury in 1283 and was the first to include the Commons, and that the Great Parliament met in Shrewsbury Abbey in 1398; appreciates that Shrewsbury's stature grew through the wool trade in the medieval era which created the wonderful stone Old Market Hall and many timber-framed Tudor houses; welcomes the proposals to renovate the world's first multi-storey, iron-framed building at the Flax Mill in 1796; remembers the associations between the town and Charles Darwin, Clive of India, Disraeli, Mary Webb, Lord Hill, Brother Cadfael and Wilfred Owen; recognises that Shrewsbury is developing a strong, vibrant economy with low unemployment, rising skills and standards in quality schools and colleges, first class transport links, investment in technology, a new Shrewsbury Learning Centre and Shrewsbury Business Park, and is surrounded by stunning Shropshire countryside, ensuring that the Town of Flowers with its warm, friendly people has an excellent future; and believes Shrewsbury presents an outstanding case for city status.

This motion has been signed by a total of 5 MPs.