LYMM village’s bid team has expressed its sadness after learning that the village has not been selected for the shortlist for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 competition.
In an official letter received from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK Town of Culture Chair Sir Phil Redmond CBE confirmed that the independent advisory panel faced an incredibly tough decision, receiving 398 applications from across the nation and narrowing them down to a final shortlist of just 15.
While the team is naturally disappointed by the result, local councillors and bid organisers have extended their warmest congratulations and best wishes to the local towns that have successfully advanced to the next stage of the competition.
Reflecting on the judges’ feedback, the Lymm bid team noted that the application process itself has highlighted the immense value of the village’s cultural landscape.
In his letter, Sir Phil Redmond encouraged the community to view the bid as “part of a continuing journey rather than a single outcome,” praising the care, commitment, and valuable community work reflected in Lymm’s submission.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Cllr Graham Gowland said: “We are, of course, sad as a team not to have been shortlisted this time around. A tremendous amount of passion and hard work went into showcasing Lymm’s unique heritage and creative spirit. However, this is just the beginning.
Lymm is such a vibrant, dynamic place, and our community spirit doesn’t depend on a single shortlist. We will continue to thrive, we will keep celebrating our local culture, and we will absolutely be back to try again next year.”
The UK Town of Culture initiative was launched to encourage communities to use creativity to tell their unique stories. The Lymm team intends to build heavily on the foundation of this year’s application, using the momentum and ideas generated to further enrich the village’s cultural calendar over the coming months.
The bid team would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all the residents, local businesses, and community groups who contributed their time, stories, and support to the application.
