Dudley is hoping to be made a city by the Queen in 2012 after launching a bid for the title earlier in the year.
Bookmakers’ odds have been good for the borough, which is among many towns and boroughs across the UK hoping to be given city status as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
Bosses at Dudley Borough Council believe the area’s history and heritage is the “jewel in the crown” of the application. Local businesses, politicians and other prominent local figures have also been publicly backing the bid
Towns competing against Dudley for the city status include Luton, Milton Keynes, Reading, Guildford, Ipswich, Wrexham and Middlesbrough.
John Polychronakis, Dudley Council chief executive, said: “We are proud of our borough and with a population of more than 300,000 we know our bid is entirely justified.
“Our history and heritage dates back millions of years with a geological make-up which laid the foundations for us being at the heart of the industrial revolution. The city status designation is being made to mark the Queen’s Jubilee and we also have many royal connections and history. This includes a reference in the Domesday book of 1086 and of course our medieval castle.”
The bid has been submitted on behalf of the whole borough, which includes the four main towns of Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen and Brierley Hill.
Mr Polychronakis added: “In addition to Dudley town centre, we have Stourbridge, with its fantastic glass making heritage, the recently regenerated Halesowen and of course, Brierley Hill, which is the focus of long-term regeneration plans and home to Merry Hill.”