A BID for Dorchester to gain city status has been dismissed as a 'vanity project', with one councillor saying there is 'more chance of plaiting fog' than there is of the bid being successful.

As reported, Dorchester Town Council has backed a decision for the town to bid for city status as part of the Queen's 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The town applied for city status a decade ago but was not selected.

Some councillors have argued that the status would reflect its importance as county town and it would bring publicity and tourism to Dorchester which would help to boost the local economy.

However, the move has been dismissed as a 'vanity project' and 'a pointless waste of time' by some councillors who believe there should be more focus placed in other areas, such as climate change, than on the town gaining city status.

Cllr Frances Hogwood, representing the Poundbury ward, was the only person to vote against the move at Monday's meeting. She said: "Bidding for city status will divert time and resources from more important and pressing concerns, such as the climate and ecological emergency, and also housing problems.

"Twenty-five towns have already put in bids. It is a vanity project which is unlikely to be successful and I do not believe city status would have any real value for Dorchester, which is well able to stand on its own merits.

"There are other county towns which have a much stronger claim to acquire city status."

Tim Harries, who represents the east ward, abstained from the vote as he considers the move to be a 'waste of time'.

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He said: "We've tried before to get city status and I don't see the point in trying again. There is more chance of plaiting fog than Dorchester getting city status.

"When you're the best town in the country you don't become a city. We don't need city status - we have so much history and so many wonderful attractions, being a city won't make any difference.

"If people want to waste their time on this then they can but I don’t see the point in it. There are better things for us to be doing."

Project director of Dorchester BID Phil Gordon believes that the friendly, local nature of Dorchester is what makes it such a wonderful town, and that might be lost if it was to gain city status.

He said: "I think Dorchester is doing fine as it is but I would be happy for us to remain the county town of Dorset.

"I think people consider cities to be very large conurbations and Dorchester is the complete opposite. Tourists are always wowed by the friendly, local nature of the town but if it was a city, tourists might be disappointed with how small it is."

However, Cllr Robin Potter, representing the south ward, thinks gaining city status would be a good thing for the town and would give Dorchester the 'recognition it deserves'.

He said: "Dorchester is an important county town with a wonderful heritage. Other towns have something to offer but they can't match us.

"Dorchester deserves to be recognised."