Chelmsford to become a City!

Chelmsford has been awarded city status as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Chelmsford's MP Simon Burns said he was delighted the town would become the first city in Essex.
The leader of the Conservative-run council, Roy Whitehead, said it was a tremendous honour for the town.
"The 'city of Chelmsford' sounds a lot better than the 'town of Chelmsford', so if we're going to get investment we'll be better off as a city," he said.
"It is a tremendous honour for the town and will bring considerable joy to the local community.
"I would like to congratulate everyone at Chelmsford Borough Council and elsewhere who worked so hard and put such a compelling bid together, which has led to this honour for our community."
Chelmsford's Mayor Robert Shepherd said: "This is very welcome news for Chelmsford and everybody who lives and works within the city.
"We are delighted that Chelmsford has been honoured in this most important of years and also that Essex has at last been recognised as the vibrant and successful county that it has become.
"On behalf of everyone in Chelmsford we would like to thank Her Majesty for this great honour in her Diamond Jubilee year."

CHELMSFORD FACTS

• The Norman town of Chelmsford was founded in 1199
• Marconi established the first wireless factory in the town's Hall Street in 1899
• It is the joint home to the V Festival, along with Staffordshire
• In 2011 Chelmsford Cathedral became Grade I listed
• The town has a population of nearly 160,000