Catch the city status buzz!
See Southend in its true colours, put your best foot forward and step aboard the special City Bid bus!
Bus company Arriva has painted one of the vehicles in its fleet with an eye-catching array of features showing just how much Southend deserves to be designated a City.
This means the borough’s bid to become a city as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in 2012 is more than just the word on the street.
It is now being emblazoned throughout Southend as a permanent reminder of the town’s aspirations.
Arriva - one of the partners for the bid - decorated the bus with designs created by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to demonstrate Southend’s greatest facets.
These highlight all the great elements that any thriving city would be proud of here in Southend-on-Sea, including images of the seafront, University, Kursaal and Palace Hotel.
The venture comes after railway company c2c named one of its trains “Southend – City on Sea“ earlier this year.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor John Lamb, said: “Our thanks go to Arriva buses for supporting our bid.
“Southend is the largest urban area in Essex, with a University Campus, great shopping centres, a thriving and broad-based economy and a fine cultural offering.
“The bid to become a city is made up of a partnership including many businesses and organisations from around the borough.
“As excellent transport is one of our key messages, it’s very fitting that both road and rail will continually keep taking this forward and driving it home!”
The town which has been successful in its bid for city status will be decided by the Queen and announced next spring as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
