Lib Dems express disappointment over Culture bid failure

12.00.00am GMT Wed 24th Feb 2010

Liberal Democrats in Durham have expressed their disappointment at today's news that Durham has failed to make the next round in the bid to be City of Culture 2013.

Lib Dem councillor Carol Woods said, "I'm saddened by today's news. Those of us lucky enough to live here know how beautiful and historic this City is and a successful bid would only have helped to show more people what Durham has to offer.

"When the bid was launched I said that I hoped the Council backed the bid with more than warm words but I'm afraid that hasn't happened. There has been no leadership from the Council in terms of real investment, they seem to have seen this as little more than a PR opportunity. Unfortunately I don't think the Council ever thought they had a real chance of winning and they fought shy of taking the steps necessary to do so.

"I hope lessons are learnt from this. We cannot just rely on the Cathedral to win titles like City of Culture. If we want to bid again and win in the future we need the Council to put its money where its mouth is so the infrastructure is in place to allow Durham to showcase its true potential."