UK City of Culture 2025: Lancashire axed bid 'should be revived'

Blackpool aims to welcome more visitors to its shows and attractions as the coronavirus pandemic recedes

Lancashire's abandoned bid to become UK City of Culture in 2025 should be revived as even a failed attempt could bring huge benefits, backers have said.

Earlier this week the county council said the £22m cost of mounting the bid was "too great a financial risk".

However, bid chairman Tony Attard said the cost should be "nearer £4m" and the council had "made a mistake".

Nearly 400 people have signed a petition urging the council to reverse its decision.

Mr Attard told BBC Radio Lancashire the smaller cost was "clearly shown in our business plan".

He added: "I'm sure that Lancashire County Council have made a mistake and have not purposely misled the public."

A council spokeswoman declined to comment further and said the matter would be discussed at a meeting later in July.

The council said it would continue to support schemes such as development around Preston's Harris Museum

Mr Attard's team spent two years preparing the bid for Lancashire to become the first county to be recognised under the scheme.

Blaze Arts, a local charity that supports young people in the creative industry, also called on the council to "reconsider its short-sighted decision".

A spokeswoman added: "It would be an amazing opportunity to transform Lancashire bringing social and economic benefit to all residents long beyond [2025]."

Lancashire County Council had previously committed £770,000 in preparing for the bid.

It has not been disclosed how much of that sum has already been spent, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The city of Hull, which won the bid in 2017, saw £300m in tourism spending generated during its year in the spotlight.

While the status does not guaranteed any specific revenue, City of Culture winners have also received funds from the government and organisations such as the Arts Council to cover 85% of their delivery costs.

Mr Attard said: "If somebody said to me in business that for a £4m investment, I was going to get £200m or £300m back, I'd be doing it now."

He said even a failed bid would allow Lancashire to pitch for other regeneration projects.

The council's deputy leader Alan Vincent said the authority would try to adopt elements from the bid for a new culture and sport strategy.

The council previously said it needs to save £43m in the current financial year.

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