What people have said

Antony Gormley, Sculptor and Designer of the Angel of the North

Gateshead has stepped into the light and shines bringing joy and delight in sound, image and object to its citizens, to the whole of the North East of England and the whole of the U.K. What Gateshead has achieved shows what a community united in good-humour and confidence can do for itself and the world by taking creative risks and sharing them.

Jonathan Edwards - Former athlete and Freeman of the Borough

The transformation of Gateshead over the two decades I've been living in the North East has been remarkable, and it has a worldwide reputation for both sport and culture. In my view, it is fully deserving of City status and I fully support the attempts to make it so...

Esther Ward Chair of the Gateshead Older People’s Assembly

'I have lived in Gateshead all my life and I am very proud of the achievements made here over the last few years. To achieve city status would be the greatest achievement of all. Good Luck'

Brendan Foster CBE – Freeman of the Borough

I am delighted to give my support to Gateshead’s bid for City Status.

Gateshead has been at the heart of the regeneration in the north east over the last twenty years because of the Council’s bold vision and entrepreneurial style, along with their determination and imagination, which has already put them on the international map. Gateshead has a reputation for hosting world-class major sporting and cultural events, including the Great North Run and has first class facilities to coach and train future athletes.

David Almond – Freeman of the Borough of Gateshead

Gateshead is a distinctive place with a rich industrial and cultural history. It stretches from windy moors to beautiful Victorian parks to a dramatic modern riverfront. It has created world-class cultural and sporting venues. Its population is vibrant and multicultural. It is a place that keeps on changing, striding forward. It has a dynamic and forward-looking council. Gateshead will make a great city. City status will allow Gateshead to build on past achievements, to capitalise on its strengths, to forge this remarkable town into a city that is distinctively Northern, and that is at home in 21st Century world.

Godfrey Worsdale – BALTIC

Gateshead’s aspiration for city status is justified by its vision and its generosity. Its ambition to commission and realise cultural assets of an international scale and quality that deliver for the nation and beyond, as well as its local population, distinguish Gateshead’s importance.

Culture is only a part of Gateshead’s accomplishment but in this field alone, it outstrips many of the UK’s largest conurbations both in terms vision and accomplishment.

Alan J Smith, Chairman of redbox design and Founding Chairman of the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

“There is little doubt that people shape our cities, but equally it is a fact that our cities shape our people.

“The award of City Status would provide approbation by Her Majesty the Queen to all of her subjects who have voted for change and would help to give them confidence and that all important nudge to get out of the current period of austerity affording the City of Gateshead the opportunity to attract even greater international awareness allowing them to share equal status, which it justly deserves, with the three other great cities in the region Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle”.

Paul Callaghan – Chair, ONE

Over the last quarter century, Gateshead has transformed itself into a place where people from all over the world love to visit and, as importantly, where its own citizens are proud to live.

This metamorphosis, both in image and in reality, has been achieved through a bold vision shared by its people and its civic leaders, by steely determination to overcome all obstacles and challenges and by exemplary partnership working.

There is no finer candidate in this country for the honour of becoming the UK's next twenty first century city.

Heidi Mottram – Northumbrian Water

Gateshead is at the heart of the cultural regeneration of the north east offering a range of places and activity to inspire residents and visitors alike. The Sage Gateshead and the Baltic are world class centres deserving of a city but Gateshead has gone beyond that developing world class partnerships to help improve its environment. A typical example would be the reintroduction of red kites. City status would further enhance Gateshead's cultural status and that will have a knock on effect on their economy, which already features the ground breaking Metro Shopping Centre and a quite diverse range of business.

Jess Leighton – Chair, GYA

Gateshead is a fantastic place to be a young person right now. Not only do we have facilities to nurture every talent we boast, but an amazing environment to start an education, a career, a business, and a family.

I think that anywhere an average, working class schoolgirl is consulted on the status of her hometown, and has the confidence to speak, and more importantly, know what she says will be valued, deserves the status of a city.

Tim Lamb – Metro Centre

‘Gateshead has, in the past few years evolved into a City that has proven that with will, determination and imagination make improvements that are beyond comprehension. City Status will not only raise the profile of Gateshead even further than in recent years but also remind the other players in the region that Gateshead is an important and integral part of the economy of the North East.

Tony Brookes – Head of Steam

What has Gateshead to offer as a city – an increasingly confident outlook, coupled with some of the most magnificent and high-profile arts and industrial facilities in the UK – The Sage Gateshead and BALTIC are world-class, better than many existing cities can muster.

It’s a joy to be trading in Gateshead. Gateshead has an out-going, developmental attitude and wants to be the best.

Tom Harvey – Northern Film and Media

“Gateshead has played a central role in the regeneration of the North East. It’s home to The Angel of the North, The Sage Gateshead, BALTIC and Gateshead Millennium Bridge. It is an open, creative and dynamic town. Its iconic landmarks and innovative approach have driven it firmly out of the shadows of its neighbours and it now fully deserves city status in its own right. I have always felt Gateshead was a city anyway, it looks like a city, it feels like a city and it behaves like a city. So it is about time it was recognised as being a city”

Anthony Sargent – The Sage Gateshead

Gateshead has consistently shown extraordinary vision and commitment, courage and clarity of purpose over the past 20 years and has won national and international renown for doing that. Gateshead has never been afraid to take bold, pioneering decisions.

We find people who come to see The Sage Gateshead, BALTIC and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge are consistently astonished to learn that Gateshead is not already a city given the international scale and significance of that vision.

Sarah Stewart, Chief Executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative

“Over the last decade Gateshead has established itself at the forefront of cultural regeneration. Having pushed the boundaries with visionary cultural projects, Gateshead’s success stories are replayed as ‘best practice’ around the world and every city in the UK now wants its own iconic Angel; Gateshead has surely earned its right to the kudos associated with city status.

“We often refer to the ‘twin cities’ of Newcastle and Gateshead in our marketing work and it would be a fitting tribute to finally make this title official.”

Charlie Gow (10 years old) – Kelvin Grove Primary School – Year 5

‘You will have more people and more people means more money and more money means that Gateshead will be more popular and more popular is very good.’

Morgan Rowntree (10 years old) – Falla Park Primary School – Year 5

‘More people will come so that means that whoever comes will go and tell their friends so more people would love Gateshead to be a city!’

Keith Ludeman, Group Chief Executive, Go Ahead

“Go-Ahead Northern was established in Gateshead in 1987, before being floated on the Stock Exchange in 1994 and Gateshead remains the Headquarters or Go-North East which provides both employment and transport for people living in the area.

Gateshead has many of the features that define a city: it is truly distinctive, combining urban, rural and riverside landscapes, friendly and welcoming people and a diverse and vibrant economy. It boasts a range of impressive attractions, iconic structures and world class venues which make it an important destination for visitors from both the UK and abroad. It is, I believe, an extremely worthy candidate for City status.

Lawrie McMenemy MBE, former footballer

“I think city status is greatly deserved, Gateshead has so much to offer and has achieved so much. From the modern symbol of ambition displayed by the fantastic Angel of the North to the magnificently restored Victorian Saltwell Park, Gateshead has such variety.

Gateshead has totally transformed itself, the old image of industry has been replaced by cultural venues, hotels or even parks like Watergate Forest Park or Derwent Walk Country Park.

It’s perhaps natural that people think of Gateshead as being about the quays and the amazing sight of the seven bridges across the Tyne, but it has so much more to offer everyone. No matter where you go in the borough you’re not far from fantastic countryside, Gateshead International Stadium hosts some of the world’s top sporting events, and venues like The Sage Gateshead and BALTIC bring famous names in music and art right to my hometown.”

Andy Carroll, Liverpool and England International Footballer

Gateshead has done a massive amount for me personally in terms of my education and the sporting opportunities that are on offer. The transformation over the years has been fantastic and it will help other people reach their potential. I have nothing but great memories of the area. I’m proud to come from Gateshead and I hope the ‘city status’ can be achieved – it’s more than deserved.

Sir John Hall

“Gateshead Council are without doubt one of the most entrepreneurial, forward-thinking, caring and ambitious councils I have met. I refer to them in talks I give as my Number One Municipal Entrepreneur”.

Wayne Hemingway MBE

“No other place in Britain has done quite so much to transform its public spaces and to think about quality of life. No other place has shown such vision and bravery. No other British place has transformed its status in such a dramatic fashion as Gateshead”.

Hari Shukla

I was exceptionally delighted to learn that Gateshead has made a bid to become a city. On behalf of all the BME Communities who have made Gateshead their home and all those who have a privilege of working with Gateshead Council we would like to support this bid.

People of Gateshead under your leadership has made tremendous contribution to foster International understanding. Gateshead has played a leading role in promoting arts and sports at an international level.

Gateshead has led a way in proving that a multicultural society is an asset and not a liability. Gateshead is regarded as the most welcoming part of the North East.

Gateshead has developed a strong concept of partnership among all the major institutions so that people work for the benefit of the North East region.

I sincerely hope that all the strengths Gateshead has, will be taken into consideration when the bid is considered.

Gateshead deserves the city status. We wish people of Gateshead good luck.

Lord Shipley of Gosforth

As you know, I have long been a supporter of Gateshead achieving City Status. Gateshead has a long and proud history as our “twin city” on the south bank of the River Tyne and it is now appropriate that Gateshead is accorded formal City Status in its own right.

Increasingly, Gateshead and Newcastle are referred to as “twin cities”. We find this in publications, media articles and in public lectures and speeches. This is a tribute to the major success achieved by Gateshead Council in establishing Gateshead with such a strong branding across the world.

Gateshead’s achievements in arts and culture and its construction of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge are testament to Gateshead’s vision and aspiration and these are acknowledged internationally. These are the achievements of a city in all but name and they confirm that Gateshead does richly deserve designation as a City.

Our two councils have worked so very closely and so very successfully in recent years in arts and culture, housing investment and in our ‘joint city’ development. The time is now right for Gateshead to be awarded City Status and I wish you every success in your bid.

David Miliband MP

I am delighted to support Gateshead’s bid for City status. This would represent a fitting next step for a community that has shown itself to be a real pioneer in recent years. Gateshead is a community of distinctive identity and purpose. The creation of the Angel of the North put it on the national/international cultural stage. Its efforts from adoption and fostering to economic development are impressive. And it has shown a willingness to back the development of a regional identity for Tyne and Wear.

City status would be a recognition of Gateshead’s achievements and a boost for further leadership in the years ahead.

Councillor Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council

I delighted to support Gateshead’s bid for City Status. Gateshead has already demonstrated through iconic structures such as the Angel of the North, the Sage Gateshead, the Baltic and Gateshead Stadium and its many facilities justify city status.

I am sure that Gateshead will be a very strong contender.

Dave Anderson MP

Gateshead has a unique position as a traditional former industrial urban centre with the real benefit of having a superb rural landscape. Together they give us our heritage and tremendous opportunities for the future. Link this with a fantastic riverside which has seen an unparalleled regeneration in recent years and we offer the best of Britain

Recognition of the iconic work that has been carried out in the recent past where we have seen our people and their town make huge strides. We are now facing our future with a confidence that few can match and the award of City status would only build on that position. We have shown the World what great leadership and innovation can do to transform our town, now the world comes to Gateshead to share our optimism and learn from our experience.

Ian Mearns MP

Gateshead is a place of great diversity both in what it has to offer in terms of the physical environment, but also amongst its people. It is a place that has undergone dramatic change and is a place which is readily accepted in its own right, rather than being a suburb of anywhere else.

City status for Gateshead would increase its profile as a place and an additional hook, on which we can attract inward investment, employment opportunities and visitors, as well as an attractive place to settle and raise a family.

Gateshead as a place now has an international profile going back 3 decades from the development of the Gateshead international Stadium and our well deserved notoriety stemming from the popularisation of athletics within the region. A whole string of flagship projects have continued to give Gateshead national and international prominence from the development of the Metro Centre; the 1990 National Garden Festival; the opening of the Gateshead Civic Centre, which is many ways a regional hub for political activity, as well as a building which serves the needs of the Gateshead public; and the adventurous development of a whole range of arts and creative projects from the Angel of the North, BALTIC and the Sage Gateshead Regional music centre.

Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council

On behalf of South Tyneside Council I am delighted to offer our support to Gateshead’s bid for city status.

We are proud to support you not just as a neighbour, but as firm admirers of what you have achieved in regenerating Gateshead and playing a leading role in the cultural and economic renaissance of Tyneside and the North East.

We already work together on issues – from school-building to waste management – and I know that Members and Officers of our Council respect the professionalism and commitment of your team. It is our hope that our relationship will continue to grow even stronger.

You have demonstrated to the region and beyond what ambition and passion can achieve. I believe that city status for Gateshead would be a well deserved accolade and a springboard to even greater success in the future.

Good luck from South Tyneside!

Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice Chancellor, Northumbria University

“Through clear vision and commitment, Gateshead has become an inspiration to its community, to its partners, and to the North East and well beyond.

“Twenty years ago, it would have been hard to imagine the Gateshead that we all enjoy today. Developments such as Baltic, the Sage, the Angel of the North and the Millennium Bridge have changed perceptions of the region. Gateshead has successfully reshaped its sense of place and is already regarded by many as a City in all but name.

“It is time for the excellent work undertaken by this forward-thinking and innovative borough and its residents to be recognised by the award of City status. This would be richly-deserved and would support Gateshead’s future strategies and achievement.”

Professor Ella Ritchie, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University

I am writing on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor – who is away in South Africa – as Acting Vice-Chancellor in support of Gateshead’s bid for city status.

A city is a vibrant environment, with a strong sense of community and citizenship. Gateshead has clearly achieved this goal with its strong commitment to the needs of its citizens. A city should also be worthy of its name, attracting activities of national and international merit; again Gateshead has achieved this through the Angel of the North, the highly successful Gateshead International Stadium, The Sage Gateshead, and most recently through the Baltic attracting the most prestigious prize in contemporary art, the Turner Prize. A city should also have a deep and meaningful history. Gateshead was the location for the testing of the first electric light and, alongside Newcastle, its quayside was at the very heart of the industrial revolution, contributing to the development of the United Kingdom’s growth. A city should have aspirational plans for its future and always be seeking to grow and develop; Gateshead’s vision for 2030 is already being delivered through effective and meaningful civic leadership. Newcastle University welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the development of this vision. We are delighted to work closely with the citizens and civic leadership to support Gateshead in its bid for city status.

City status will, quite simply, place the Gateshead community alongside its peers. City status will be a vote of confidence by others in the huge and substantial efforts made by the people of Gateshead to recognise and celebrate the legacy of the past and to embrace the future. The alignment of Newcastle and Gateshead will be further enhanced by the award of city status – allowing the communities to be united as the ‘Twin Cities of the North’, creating an even more effective unifying heart to the city-region. In that sense city status means as much to those outside Gateshead as those within it.

Newcastle University, with its strong civic commitment and active student community, is delighted to work with Gateshead to assist, where we can, in delivering a social, cultural and economic environment worthy of city status. We are already working closely with Gateshead at both a day-to-day and strategic level. Under our societal themes of Ageing & Health, Sustainability and Social Renewal these links will deepen and reach further in future years.

Cllr Paul Watson, Leader of the Council, Sunderland City Council

Sunderland City Council would be pleased to support Gateshead in your bid for city status.

Gateshead currently makes a significant contribution both to Tyne and Wear and to the North East region as a whole. A number of the iconic North East landmarks, such as The Angel of the North, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and The Sage Gateshead are based in the borough and symbolise the transformation that has taken place in the North as well as being major tourist attractions. These, along with the shopping and leisure complex, Gateshead’s Metrocentre, attract millions of visitors and spending power to the area every year. Confirming the borough’s status as a city would only help to increase the visibility of Gateshead and boost the tourism industry in the North East.

In addition to the contribution Gateshead’s cultural and leisure developments make to the economy of the North East, it has a strong industrial base. Major companies such as Komatsu, BAE Systems, Npower Northern Ltd and bank note producer De La Rue are based in the borough and have a significant role in growing the region’s economy.

Sunderland achieved city status through the first competition to grant this as a mark of special royal occasions. This was in 1992 and marked the fortieth anniversary of the Queen’s reign.

As a relatively new city we can certainly say that achieving this status has helped to raise our profile and the residents of Sunderland have seen a great deal of good come from this, both economically and socially. If Gateshead were to receive the same recognition we are sure it would benefit the borough in a similar manner which, during the current economic context, is something urban areas in the North East of the country particularly need.

The awarding of city status cemented our place in the region and gave us national and international publicity. It cannot be denied that this free advertising has, in turn, attracted investment into Sunderland and the surrounding areas. Over the past 20 years businesses have seen we are a great place to invest in and realised that moving to Sunderland is beneficial to them. We have attracted over 60 international companies to Sunderland, including Nissan, Rolls Royce, Liebherr, Berghaus, Nike, Barclays and Lloyds and our residents have benefitted from an increase in the number of jobs.

In boosting our profile it has also made us more attractive. In recent years we have signed friendship agreements with Washington DC and Harbin, China’s 10^th largest city. It is doubtful this would have happened if we were not a city ourselves. Sunderland is the only non-capital city globally to have such an agreement with Washington DC and has helped to forge new economic, educational and cultural links between the two cities. With Harbin, our agreement is helping to foster long-lasting commercial relations and build economic ties that will benefit the people of both cities in the years ahead and to develop future trade opportunities and joint ventures between Chinese and North East businesses.

City status has also added confidence to Sunderland as a place to hold major events. Annual events such as the biggest free annual airshow in Europe – the Sunderland International Airshow – and the city’s annual 10k run grow in size each year. In 2005 we attracted Radio One’s Big Weekend music festival to the city, we continue to attract major international music groups to perform concerts in the city, and our Empire Theatre is now known as the `West End of the North East’ due to the touring shows it attracts.

In recent years Sunderland was chosen alongside 11 other cities to be included in the bid to bring the World Cup to England in 2018. Although the country was ultimately unsuccessful, clearly Sunderland would not have been chosen as a candidate city if it was still a town. For perhaps the same reasoning, in 2007 the first direct train link to London was opened.

Finally, it cannot be underestimated the `feel good factor’ that is sparked by becoming a city. In Sunderland this boosted an even greater sense of civic pride in the area which continues to this day.

For all of the above reasons, Sunderland City Council is pleased to support Gateshead’s bid for city status in 2012.

Kate Mukungu, Chair of GVOC Board of Trustees

At their meeting on Monday 18 April 2011, GVOC’s Management Committee considered the proposal by Gateshead to bid for city status.

The Committee was unanimous in supporting the proposal and applauds the Council for continuing to have ambitions for the borough even in these difficult times.

It was acknowledged that Gateshead has moved from being “Newcastle’s dirty back yard” to a central role both economically and culturally in the region. Gateshead looks good in terms of regeneration and general maintenance.

When GVOC recruits for new staff candidates often comments that they want to work in Gateshead because “that’s where it’s happening”. By this they often mean, positive relationships within the Gateshead family leading to progressive and effective services and initiatives in both the voluntary and the statutory sector.

Traditionally, the headquarters of voluntary sector organisations have been located in Newcastle but as Gateshead changes so this is changing. For example;

Blaydon Mind evolved into Mind in Gateshead and last month re-launched as Tyneside Mind. However, the organisation is committed to having its base in Gateshead.
Tyneside Women’s Health has now opened an outreach office in Newcastle but retain their main operation in Gateshead.

The faith communities are extremely supportive of the bid and they hope that city status would encourage their religious leaders to develop faith centres such as Mosques and Temples in Gateshead, ensuring that the borough can become a beacon of equality and integration.

Generally, receiving city status would reward the people of Gateshead who are renowned for their sense of community and commitment to their borough.

GVOC wishes you good luck in the bid and offers any further support you may require.

Lord Bates of Langbaurgh

‘Over the past twenty years the town of Gateshead has risen from the ashes of heavy industrial decline and the shadow of the City of Newcastle to re-invent itself as a proud, dynamic centre of culture and technology. The award of City Status would not only be a great tribute to what has already been achieved and those who have achieved it, it would also be a wonderful platform on which to build in the years ahead.’

‘Gateshead is for me a town of dreams’

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

"I have worked with Gateshead over many years. It is a City in all but name. It has the vision the diversity and the ambition of a City. And the history and the identity and sense of place which goes with being a city. In speaking of Gateshead inside and outside, at home and abroad it would be of real assistance to be able to talk of it as a city, and to refer to the twin cities on the north and south banks of the Tyne."

Barry Rowland, Chief Executive

Newcastle City Council is delighted to give the strongest possible support to Gateshead’s bid for City Status.

Newcastle and Gateshead are distinct places with their own identities and sense of community, but with a shared history and heritage.

We also have a common commitment to the future which is expressed through partnership arrangements which we believe to be the most powerful and sustained of any two local authorities in the country.

For over a decade we have worked closely together, through the unique NewcastleGateshead Initiative, to present and promote major cultural events and festivals and to integrate tourism, marketing and conference promotion, all with considerable success and popular endorsement.

Now we invest together in our economic development through the NewcastleGateshead development company and its “1Plan” and we are building an integrated approach to planning, housing and transport through a single Local Development Framework. From the outset we have developed this collaborative working as equal partners.

Through ambitious and effective leadership, reflecting the aspirations of local people, Gateshead has developed assets of which any city would be proud. The Angel of the North is a symbol of Gateshead and its regeneration and cultural ambition, but also reflects change and progress in the wider North East region. The same may be said of the Metrocentre, Europe’s largest shopping centre, opened 25 years ago on derelict industrial land.

The revival of the iconic quayside of Newcastle and Gateshead owes much to Gateshead’s cultural ambition. BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and The Sage Gateshead have rapidly become established as venues of international reputation and renown. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge – the world’s first and only tilting bridge – not only connects the north and south quaysides but adds hugely to the attraction of the riverside to tourists through its elegance and its unique engineering. These outstanding architectural achievements complement the commercial redevelopment on the Newcastle side to produce a cityscape now famous around the world as a symbol of successful transition from an industrial, and neglected, past to a modern, diverse and sustainable economy.

Gateshead has also achieved a global reputation for sport, culminating in being awarded the accolade of “European City of Sport” in 2010; this was in recognition of its powerful support for sport, from the grassroots to the hosting of world class competitions such as international athletics grand prix.

The standing of Gateshead as a prime destination for leisure and culture would be strengthened should the bid for City Status be successful.

We also feel sure that being a City would raise further the profile of Gateshead and of our region both nationally and internationally. It would help attract further investment and give additional impetus to the strong sense of local identity and pride.

Gateshead is a forward-looking borough, with inspiring plans for the redevelopment of its town centre and for its continued evolution as a centre for the creative, digital design industries.

We believe that, as twin cities across the River Tyne, the partnership between Newcastle and Gateshead can only become stronger, stimulating the continued economic development and regeneration of our communities.

We therefore offer our complete support to the people of Gateshead in their next step towards designation as a City.

Graham Wood, Chair of Gateshead Football Club

"The transformation of the town from my childhood days in the 1940's and 50's to the Gateshead of today is remarkable and the regeneration continues to move forward at a pace.

Gateshead is now recognised internationally for its contribution to culture and the arts and for its iconic architecture such as The Sage Gateshead, the Angel of the North and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. It also boasts the largest shopping centre in the European Union and has exceptionally good transport links.

On the sporting front, Gateshead International Stadium is a regular venue for world class athletics and home to professional Rugby League and Football teams in Gateshead Thunder and Gateshead FC.

Gateshead truly has the feel of a city and it would be a great honour to have that status conferred upon us. In which event I would be delighted to celebrate by changing the name of the football club to Gateshead City."

Dr David Knight, Open University

The central development plans are based on the sort of bold and exciting thinking that has already made Gateshead a city in all but name as far as leisure and culture are concerned: The Sage Gateshead, one of Britain’s premier music venues; the Baltic arts centre, host to next year’s Turner Prize; Gateshead International Stadium, currently in the second phase of a multi million pound redevelopment; the award-winning Saltwell Park; the Metro Centre, Europe’s largest indoor shopping and leisure centre, now in its 25th year; the iconic Angel of the North; the Gateshead Millennium Bridge; the new home of the Open University in the North; Gateshead College’s new campus. With prestigious developments like these, Gateshead has for many years led the way in urban regeneration in the North East – often quietly over-shadowing its better-known neighbour across the river – and richly deserves recognition.

Gateshead has for too long suffered from an undeserved ‘poor relation’ status vis à vis Newcastle, despite having arguably done a lot more for the region’s development in recent years.

Michael Spriggs, Managing Director, UK Land Estates

I am delighted to be able to support Gateshead's bid for city status. Gateshead hosts a unique concentration of businesses , most of it on Team Valley. Team Valley is home to over 700 businesses and employs over 20,000 people. These include world leaders in automotive, aerospace, oil and gas industries and many new innovative industries. Team Valley is still regarded in the property world as an exemplar business park known throughout the world.

Chris Ryan, former British Special Forces operative and novelist

I am 100% behind Gateshead's bid to become a city. I'm very proud to have been born and brought up in the North East, and it would be great to have two cities running either side of the river Tyne

Responses to ‘I believe Gateshead should be a city because:’

Martin, NE9 6LY- Gateshead is a large area with a very diverse community and has just as much culture spread throughout its area as its neighbouring cities Newcastle and Durham.
Audrey – Lamesley, Gateshead - Because we have shown the ability to develop the town and take advantage of a wide range of opportunites to enhance the life of the people. and the council is prudent and progressive.
David – Low Fell, Gateshead - The quality of life offered by living in Gateshead should be recognised By Gateshead being given city status.
Dylan - I lived in Gateshead for three years and it is a great place with plenty going on, it deserves to be a City alongside Newcastle and Sunderland
Valerie – Pelaw, Gateshead - Gateshead is already a city in the minds of the residents, we have vision, pride and dedication to this place which no official City could match.
Louise – Low Fell, Gateshead - Gateshead has always been in Newcastle's shadow but Gateshead is worthy of being an equal.
Jo-Ann – Dunston - Gateshead are doing a lot to the centre and we also now have strong links with City of Newcastle so it only seems right that it should also be City of Gateshead
Lynn – Low Fell - Gateshead needs to take great pride in it's heritage but also in the future of it's citizens. City status should hopefully help raise the profile of Gateshead, attract investment in to the area - and particularly in to the Town centre. Please look at the website and make it easier for people to pledge their support - putting a link on the home page would help
Lorraine, Low Fell - Gateshead is a vibrant place to live and deserves the kudos of city status in line with its neighbour Newcastle
Laura, Low Fell - Gateshead is a great place to live but is often overlooked in favour of its better-known neighbour. Gateshead has a fantastic art and culture scene, with Enchanted Parks and The Late Shows being two highlights of the calendar. Having spent time living in the south of England and overseas, it is clear that the vibrant Gateshead of 2011 is very different from the Gateshead I grew up in. I believe that gaining city status would be a great recognition of the transformation that has taken place over recent years.
Mike, Birtley - Gateshead has for many years suffered in the shadow of Newcastle. We are equally as progressive as them and deserve City status.
Stacey, Dunston - Gateshead is a fab, modern upcoming town, lots to do, brilliant amenities, filled with local history, constantly new activities and things to do, and close to other great places e.g Newcastle, Durham etc and the people in Gateshead most of all are fab, friendly, welcoming and have a great sense of humour!
Robert, Whickham - We need it to move up a level so on same status as Newcastle
Maureen, Wrekenton - Having lived in Gateshead all my life I can honestly say I'm proud to live here. When we 'Won' the 'Angel of the North' I just knew we now had something that would 'Put us on the Map' and things really did start to happen the Quayside and Sage are good examples. I can't wait for the new shopping centre and hopefully new developments after that. Having City status would be wonderful, the Council and residents deserve this.
Julie, Blaydon - Great culture (The Sage Gateshead) Fantastic leisure facilities. Planned re-development of the town centre will make Gateshead an even better place to come and visit for shopping and eating. We already have the Metrocentre which is one of the largest in Europe. Lovely countryside.
Kim, Nevilles Cross - Working for 10 years as Deputy Principal of Gateshead College I had the privilege of developing many partnerships across Gateshead. I know that Gateshead has the scale of achievement and ambition for its people that more than justifies city status.
James, Brighton - As an 'exile' from the town of Gateshead to the town of Brighton I have seen the difference making Brighton into a City has made to the people in my adoptive home. I wish the same feeling of belonging and recognition to my old stomping ground. Here's to the City of Gateshead.
Alan, Saltwell - Innovative borough with internationally recognised buildings and events
Ray, Deckham - Gateshead is keeping up with the future offering so buildings, Redevelopment, Sport etc and a lot of outsiders think it is already a city with items like: the Angel of the North Baltic Art Centre Millennium Bridge Art in the community International Sports Stadium
Stacy, Felling - I think it's about time Gateshead was recognised for it's own success and beauty. We have a lot to offer, The Baltic, The Sage, The Angel of the North, The MetroCentre, lovely Parks.
Muriel, Felling - Because I love the place
Paul, Rowlands Gill - Gateshead is a progressive place and deserves recognition for all of the excellent developments that have taken place over the past few years. Consequently, Gateshead is now a modern and vibrant place. No longer should Gateshead have to live in the shadows of Newcastle.
Jack, Saltwell - Because I have lived in Gateshead since I was born I love it
Fred, Felling - Love living here
Heather, Deckham - It's a brilliant place to be
Ian, Felling -Great place to live
Natalia, Leam Lane - Gateshead is an amazing place worthy of this status. It is filled with amazing facilities and amazing people. I'm shocked that Gateshead isn’t already a City!
Ken, Deckham - So much has improved in the last few years with all the new structuring of the town. Although we do not have a cathedral and not so many old buildings we have state of the art new buildings and I am sure that many cities would love to have what we have here.
Steve - It’s my home town, and I want it to be a City when I move back!
Kerry, Low Fell - I am born and bred in Gateshead, it wasnt until I moved to Bournemouth for a year I realised how amazing Gateshead and Newcastle are. Gateshead has everything an urban centre and miles and miles of rural land, there is something for everyone here. There are so many things to do for kids and adults and we have become a town renowned for its arts and culture, thanks to the Baltic and the Sage. I am proud to say I come from Gateshead, it’s about time we had city status, look at what we have to offer!!!!
Peter, Harlow Green - Gateshead has done so much to move itself forward that it deserves recognition. The Council has been really pro-active and taken the attitude that nothing is too good to aim for, whether it be economically (Metro Centre, Team Valley etc), monuments and landmarks (e.g. the Angel) and of course the arts, Gateshead has come a great track record of demonstrating what a successful city should look like.
Rebekka, Whickham - Because it is a good place and I have lived here all my life
Glynis, Low Fell - The vast amount of impressive and innovative changes have, in my opinion, been sufficient for Gateshead to now proudly call itself a cultural city
Kenneth, Leam Lane - For too long we have lived in the shadow of our neighbours across the river. Time to get ourselves city status in our own right
Karen - I don’t support it Gateshead is an absolute dump, it’s a slum
Claire, Felling - Because we have the Angel and the Millennium Bridge and many other wonderful things, but we can't seem to get out of the shadow of Newcastle. Even the Hilton Hotel has Newcastle and it's on Bottle Bank. It's about time we were recognised for all we have done and continue to do, instead of others pinching our glory!
Catherine, Leam Lane - Its always been the little sister to Newcastle we should be a city in our own right
Phillip, Newcastle - I work in gateshead at the sage gateshead, I’m supporting the bid because it would be great for the region. Gateshead is the heart of the culture of the north, with Baltic and of course the Sage Gateshead
Birdie - Glad I've finally found something I agree with!
Doreen – Ryton - Moved here in 1975 and have seen tremendous changes in that time. Mostly for the better. The time is now right for Gateshead to become a city, we are now firmly on the map and I do not have to explain where we are!
Chris – Blaydon - In order for Gateshead to receive more recognition for what it has to offer and the facilities we have
Ruth – Morpeth - Gateshead has gone from strength to strength and is now a place name everyone knows - should be a city
Glen – Bensham - I have lived here 40 years and have witnessed a near miraculous change and growth in Gateshead. The regeneration is tremendous and I am proud to tell people I live in Gateshead.
Emma – Bensham - It's a great place to live and work in. It has lots to offer in terms of culture, leisure, countryside and wildlife (on land and in rivers). Gateshead also continues to make some fantastic developments to further enhance these aspects.
Raghav - Newcastle - A place with so many interesting places to see, should be a city.
Paul – Felling - For too long we have been known as "the dirty road to Newcastle". To become a city would put a stamp on all the hard work that has been done over the last 20 years and continues to be done
Amanda – Dunston -I have lived in Gateshead all my life and have seen so much development in recent years - BALTIC, The Sage Gateshead etc and the development of the centre of Gateshead and Dunston is grea