The first ever UK Town of Culture competition has been launched in a bid to restore pride in communities across the country. The competition aims to drive local economic growth and opportunity through creativity in a similar manner to the successful city of culture model.
Showcasing towns’ local visions and voices – through new arts venues, performances, workshops and more – ministers hope it will drive local investment, create a lasting sense of pride in towns, and open the doors to the arts for everyone. The UK Town of Culture competition builds on the success of UK City of Culture, which has delivered transformative benefits for its four winners. Bradford, last year’s title holder, is projected to benefit from £389 million in growth across the district, with city centre footfall up 25% during its year in the spotlight. Early estimates show audiences for its City of Culture programme exceeded three million, with 80% of local residents surveyed saying it improved their wellbeing and made them feel proud of where they live.
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There are now 11 weeks to apply with the competition open to small, medium and large towns, with the winner delivering a vibrant cultural programme through a £3m funding pot.
Former Grange Hill and Brookside mastermind Sir Phil Redmond will lead an expert panel, judging towns on the way they’ll tell their unique story, how they’ll bring everyone in a community together, and how towns will deliver on their vision.
The strongest initial bids will progress to a shortlist, with each shortlisted town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition.
Three finalists – one small, one medium, one large town – will then be chosen with the winner being crowned UK Town of Culture 2028 and handed the £3 million prize.
The two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their bid, from refreshed community infrastructure to electric music festivals.
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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “There is so much for us to be proud of in the towns we’re from – from the rich, local history to unique festivals and celebrations. They have shaped our national story for decades. Now it’s time they take centre stage and showcase the unique stories they have to tell.
“We have seen the transformative power of culture through the UK City of Culture competition. I want to make sure that towns have the same opportunity to make a real difference to their local community and show the world exactly why their town is so special.”
UK Town of Culture Chair, Sir Phil Redmond added: “I am delighted to have been asked to Chair the new Town of Culture competition, as in the past it has been hard to adequately demonstrate the depth, breadth and diversity of the UK’s cultural landscape through the UK City of Culture’s urban lens.
Laugharne visit Pictured: Gv’s of Laugharne Laugharne is a picturesque town in Carmarthenshire, Wale (Image: John Myers)
“The two competitions will complement each other while providing more opportunities for more places to both demonstrate and celebrate that creativity is not confined to the great urban concert halls, theatres or galleries. It is in everything we do together. In every town, village, neighbourhood, street or road.
“UK Town of Culture asks what makes your town special? What makes its people proud to be there? And why should that be celebrated?”
This new initiative follows the government in November 2025 launching its Pride in Place Programme, providing up to £10 billion to support 244 towns across the country whose communities have been let down by decline and systematic under-investment. Under this scheme, communities will be able to spend the funding on what matters most to them – from improvements to pavements and high streets to investing in culture and green spaces.
The search for UK City of Culture 2029 is already underway for Expressions of Interest from cities, larger towns, regions and groups of places. The winning place for UK City of Culture 2029 will be awarded £10 million.
Rachel Reeves pay-per-mile plot in tatters as drivers ditch EVs
Rachel Reeves pay-per-mile car tax fee could deter motorists from switching to EVs (Image: Getty)
Rachel Reeves’ pay-per-mile plan could be in complete tatters before it’s even got off the ground, with new research showing road users are prepared to completely turn their backs on electric cars. The Chancellor confirmed that a new 3p per mile electric car charge would come into effect from 2028, with hybrid models charged at a lower rate of 1.5p per mile.
The new fee could see motorists pay around £240 per year if travelling the average of 8,000 miles per annum. Meanwhile, a journey from London to Edinburgh would set road users back over £12, with a trip between John O’Groats and Lands End coming in at around £25.
Electric car pay-per-mile fees are set to launch in 2028 (Image: Getty)
The pay-per-mile fees are being introduced to offset the loss of fuel duty revenues as more motorists switch away from combustion cars to new EVs. However, there are concerns that the new charges could backfire, with road users likely to be put off making the switch altogether.
New data from WhatCar? Has backed this up, with research suggesting road users were set to ditch EVs altogether. A poll of 4,368 in-market car buyers found that 52% of respondents would be deterred from making the switch if the rule were implemented.
According to the data, more than a third of respondents (38%) who were already planning to buy an electric car said they would reconsider if a pay-per-mile charge was added. The fee looks set to be highly controversial, with a further two-thirds of road users believing that EV owners should not have to pay an additional tax.
According to the poll, only 13% would be happy to pay the 3p per mile fee, with only 20% admitting that the new charge would be a good idea at all.
Claire Evans, WhatCar? Consumer editor said: “Introducing an additional tax on EVs won’t only be unpopular, it will clearly make many drivers who are intending to buy an EV rethink their plans. Coming hot on the heels of the Government’s Electric Car Grant, which stimulated demand for EVs, it sends a terrible mixed message.”
Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, backed the introduction of the new fees in the Government’s consultation report.
He argued: “If we do nothing, then by 2030 around one in five car drivers are expected to pay no fuel duty at all, while other motorists will continue to contribute an average of £480 a year. Given all cars cause congestion and wear and tear on the roads, this is not a fair outcome.
“That’s why the government will introduce electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028.”
Labour’s new plot to make it harder for pensioners over 70 to keep driving licence
Labour could be about to introduce another simple policy to their eyesight testing proposals, which could leave many pensioners off the road.
New driving licence rules could impact older motorists (Image: Getty)
Labour looks set to make it harder for over-70s to stay on the roads with new driving licence rules likely to be introduced later this year. The Government is pushing for the introduction of eyesight testing for older drivers, with checks set to become mandatory for retaining a licence over the age of 70.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation examining the issue ahead of any updates being confirmed. The Government consultation goes into extra details about Labour’s exact plans, with officials making a major admission.
The Government has opened a consultation over new mandatory eyesight rules (Image: Getty)
Instead of using a central database of eyesight test information to check against applicants, the DfT has suggested that the onus may be on motorists to prove they have undergone checks every three years.
According to the DfT consultation: “Consideration is being given to a licence holder providing proof that they have attended an eye test, which would include confirming the outcome from whoever conducted the test.”
Failure to provide these details to the DVLA at renewal is likely to risk motorists not being handed a new photocard and effectively being banned from the roads. The consultation report added: “Considerations include having tests administered by opticians, the NHS or through bespoke test centres for driving eyesight tests.
“We would require evidence of the outcome of the test within a set timeframe at each licence renewal. This could be provided by the licence holder, the person who conducts the test or both.”
However, at this early stage, the DfT stressed they have not ruled out pushing testers to report information to the DVLA instead. This would likely ensure motorists don’t accidentally forget to submit their results, leading to dozens of pensioners off the roads.
The report explained: “Alongside this, we could look to introduce a legal obligation on the person conducting the test to report test results directly to the DVLA.
“Introducing a mandatory reporting requirement would give assurance that a licence holder meets the required vision standards and supports proactive intervention where vision may pose a road safety risk.”
The consultation is a chance for industry experts to have their say over the plans, with final details to be announced soon after.
Later in the consultation, the DfT asks consultation respondents “who should be responsible for notifying the DVLA of the outcome of the mandatory eyesight test”, suggesting that this is still up for debate at this stage.
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