Llangollen fails to make shortlist for UK Town of Culture

* Llangollen Town Council spearheaded the bid for the Town of Culture title.

Llangollen has not made the shortlist for the UK Town of Culture 2028.

The disappointing news came in a formal letter of notification from the competition's chairman Sir Phil Redmond.

Llangollen's tilt at the title, which carries a £3 million first prize, began a few months ago with an exhaustive round of public consultation on how they would like to see the local bid composed.

The application, spearheaded by Llangollen Town Council, was submitted by the deadline of March 31 with everyone involved keeping their fingers crossed for a successful outcome.

But town clerk Gareth Thomas has sent out word this morning that Llangollen had not made the all-important shortlist.

He said: "While this outcome is disappointing, the process has clearly demonstrated the strength of our co working across the community. That collaboration is something we should continue to build on."

According to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which is organising the competition, 15 towns, including Pontypridd and Port Talbot in Wales, have made the list and will now compete for the title.

They are: 

• Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
• Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
• Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham

Sir Phil Redmond said in his letter: "Although you may be disappointed that your application has not been selected, we hope you will regard your participation as a part of a continuing journey rather than a single outcome. The work you and your communities have undertaken has value, and we encourage you to continue building on that work."