WARRINGTON Borough Council is being urged to make the town a pledge for peace signatory.

It is the UN International Day of Peace on Tuesday, with former mayor Geoff Settle saying he would like to mark that occasion by asking council leader Cllr Russ Bowden if he will commit to making Warrington a pledge for peace signatory at the full council meeting a day earlier.

He said: “The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation is an associate member of the Oldham Pledge to Peace Forum.

“In 2016, as mayor I was delighted to welcome a delegation headed by the mayor and mayoress of Oldham to the Peace Centre and hear how they had become the first place in the UK to sign. They encouraged me to set the wheels in motion for Warrington.

“Warrington is known internationally as the host of the UK’s only specialist Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation, born out of a tragedy in our town, that is working for conflict resolution and reconciliation.”

Warrington Borough Council has issued a statement on the matter.

A spokesman said: “The council is still considering applying for city status as part of the platinum jubilee civic honours competition.

“If the ultimate decision is to apply for city status, ideas and proposals linked to the city status bid, including being a signatory of the pledge for peace, would also be considered.”

As reported earlier this month, Cllr Bowden has confirmed he wants the town to apply for city status.

The Queen has agreed for a competition to be held to grant the prestigious and rare civic honours of city status and Lord Mayor or Lord Provost status to a select number of worthy towns and cities in the UK.

This will be the first time in 10 years that Her Majesty awards civic honours and the occasion comes as part of celebrations to mark The Queen’s platinum jubilee.

The competition will close on December 8.