Plymouth to be rebranded as 'Britain's Ocean City'
PLYMOUTH is to be rebranded as "Britain's Ocean City", council leader Tudor Evans has revealed.
Cllr Evans told a meeting at the Council House: "I have ordered big signs for the A38 – 'Welcome to Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City'."
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Plymouth Hoe by Allan Jones
The branding will replace the slogan "Positively Plymouth".
The Herald understands that city partners have been debating whether to go for "Ocean City" or "Marine City".
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Cllr Evans said the signs would arrive in time for Easter, but refused to be drawn on what they would show. The Herald reported last month that the city had ditched its £53,250 slogan Positively Plymouth two years after it was created by a marketing company.
The Positively Plymouth brand was launched in May 2010 after a project funded by Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth City Development Company. At the time the CDC said Positively Plymouth had a "long term future".
The CDC folded that year but handed over responsibility to Destination Plymouth who continued to use the brand to market the city.
The Positively Plymouth website was launched in March 2011 to promote events and attract investment. The site is no longer live.
Plymouth City Council said afterwards: "Brands need to evolve over time to remain fresh and current and much has happened over the last three years to provide Plymouth with a more powerful external narrative.
"Core messages and themes identified in the Positively Plymouth strategy will be retained and amplified in an updated approach."
The announcement came at the Plymouth Plan Forum, where city leaders, developers, architects and others are discussing a blueprint for the future of the city.
But he also said the city centre 'needs more uses'.
The meeting also heard Councillor Evans say he plans to 'defend' the city centre as a shopping area, and call on people from across the city to put forward ideas for Plymouth.
The move is the latest in a series of brands, mottos and slogans for Plymouth.
The ancient motto of the city Turris fortissima est nomen Jehova - the name of Jehova is a strong tower - is taken from the Bible and is attached to the coat of arms recorded in 1620.
Some historians say this motto has stood since the time of the English Civil War.
After the destruction of World War Two Plymouth adopted the Latin motto Resurgam - which was carved into the doorway of the Blitz-damaged St Andrew's Church.
It means I shall Rise Again.
Signs on the A38 were later emblazoned with the slogan Plymouth - Spirit of Discovery, alluding the city rich heritage of naval exploration.
The motto was used from 1996 as part of Plymouth's bid for multi-million pound Millennium funding.
Unfortunately, the signs were frequently reduced by vandals to Plymouth - Spirit of Disco.
The most recent branding, Positively Plymouth, was created in a marketing exercise and dropped after less than two years.
102 Comments
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by bikerlad707
Sunday, March 31 2013, 9:04AM
“waste more money mr Evans ,your so stupid it not true , cut spending you don't know the meaning of the word . just let our roads get so bad we wont be able to drive on them soon ,
all because you thought up a stupid idea , you need to get with it MR soon as UKIP GETS IN THE BETTER. then youl be history ,
soultoucher , yes you are right they do whatever they want without asking , about time we all showed them it not the way to run this city”
by frankdrake
Monday, March 25 2013, 9:27PM
“Belt up the lot of you”
by Sue002
Sunday, March 10 2013, 4:40PM
“Man from Atlantis aka Tudor Evans. That is a name we will all remember as the twit that finally destroyed Plymouth along with his team of branding experts.”
by Jonathan Braddick - RIBA Chartered Architects Devon
Thursday, March 07 2013, 8:55AM
“To see the whole debate and understand the comments made in context you will shortly be able to watch on the link below:- http://tinyurl.com/bn4jxrj
It is fantastic to see so many comments above and I am very proud to have been partly responsible for organising this event in partnership with Plymouth Council. I hope that people who have an interest in the future of Plymouth will continue to take part in the debate in such an enthusiastic way. http://tinyurl.com/chzwflk”
by MuppetAlert
Thursday, March 07 2013, 8:13AM
“I see the New Labour bunch complained and had my very reasonable post removed. Thanks Herald for your support of free speech.”
by Boggy23
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:46PM
“OK So a decision is made, in essence a good name and bit of marketing. However, what do we offer other than a fantastic vista from the Hoe! No airport, a poor potholed road access which is strewn with rubbish (Parkway and A38) Forder Valley hill ditto, same for the St Budeaux bypass. So Tudor, if you want to impress the visitors for god sakes get someone out there to tidy the place up.
The current scuffy approach road network situation does not give me any confidence!!!!”
by leeroymeboy
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:32PM
“And I suggest to you we change an image by investing in our people, infrastructure and culture first, the signs come second.”
by KinWong69
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:16PM
“It might be a bit misjudged and a waste of money, but we do need an image change for our home. Currently we only appeal to the odd American who's under the misapprehension that Plymoth was anything more than a pit stop for the Pilgrims.”
by leeroymeboy
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:01PM
“We're not geographically next to an ocean so why should an imbecile embarrass us on the motorway (sorry Devon expressway), by proclaiming we are? With OUR money, in secret.
It's not as though we have people losing their jobs on a daily basis, no airport / proper infrastructure, laclustre culture (although, we're going for the 'City of culture bid').
What. planet. do. you. live. on?!
Positively Plymouth, re*ar*dly Plymouth.
Stop wasting our money you cretins.”
by Dynamic Seascapes
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 8:38PM
“Plymouth is not geographically on an Ocean, but if this is the decision and the signs have been ordered, then so be it, better than the previous slogan. My choice would have been:- Plymouth: City by the Sea, then I work for Dynamic Holdings which are paid to come up with the right slogan.
Some of the previous comments on this site are infantile, uninformed and introspective. Plymouth, as far as Marketing is concerned is at War with its competitors and needs everyone to root for it, as this will draw in the visitors spending power which will filter down and benefit every one”