Campaigners call for Lincolnshire to be crowned County of Culture and say it's been 'neglected for too long'
Campaigners say Lincolnshire has been ‘neglected for too long’ and are calling for the county to get a special status to help celebrate its unsung strengths.
County councillors Richard Cleaver (Independent – Stamford West) and Phil Dilks (Independent – Deepings East) – who both also sit on South Kesteven District Council – have suggested that Lincolnshire should be given the title County of Culture in 2027, after none of the area’s town of culture competition bids made the Government’s shortlist.
Coun Cleaver told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he doesn’t feel the county is getting the recognition it deserves.
He said: “I feel that Lincolnshire’s been neglected for too long by Whitehall and Westminster and the fact that none of the eight bids from Lincolnshire was shortlisted is just another symptom of that.
“My gut reaction is we’ve got plenty of things in Lincolnshire to celebrate – which we really should celebrate.”
He pointed to the upcoming plans to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Sir Isaac Newton’s death – due to be marketed by South Kesteven District Council – as one upcoming opportunity.
Coun Cleaver pointed to the county’s rich history with the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, the Pilgrim Fathers’ connection to Gainsborough and Boston and the Spalding Flower Parade – and has called for these to be recognised.
He went on to say that council leaders across Lincolnshire could work together to put together a diary of existing cultural events across the county – and also look to expand them.
The call comes as existing local authorities are set to be axed and replaced with newer, bigger, alternatives.
Coun Cleaver added: “I don’t think it’s a big ask and I think it’s something that would be really lovely to bring the county together, make the rest of the country more aware of us in the term up to these councils being abolished and us having other arrangements in place.
“It’s long overdue, in my opinion. I’ve been a councillor for five years and in that time I don’t think LCC’s done enough to promote the county, really, in terms of its reputation as a place to visit to the whole of England.”
Coun Dilks agrees that there is an opportunity to get together to celebrate the county’s culture in 2027.
He said: “In their final year of existence it would be great to see the county council and all seven district councils working together – across the political divide – to make it happen.
“That’s why I have written to the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council urging him to declare 2027 as Lincolnshire’s County of Culture Year and to organise a coordinated programme of events commemorating Lincolnshire’s rich and diverse culture from military and scientific to religious, musical and artistic.”
County of Culture is a new term devised by the duo, taking inspiration from the new Town of Culture contest.
Eight Lincolnshire bids were put forward for the inaugural Town of Culture competition – from Boston, Grantham, Horncastle and Spilsby (jointly), Louth, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford.
South Kesteven District Councillor Tim Harrison (Independent – Grantham St Wulframs) has said the team behind the ‘Ghosh! It’s Grantham’ campaign would continue to develop a Band Aid-style video featuring the town’s musicians, despite Grantham’s bid not being accepted.