AN EXPERT on international culture says Canterbury has a mountain to climb if it is to become European Capital of Culture in 2008. Robert Palmer works as a consultant to major cultural events in more than 20 countries as well as acting as an advisor to the European Commission and the Council of Europe.

He played a key role in both Glasgow and Brussels becoming the Capitals of Culture in 1990 and 2000 respectively. Mr Palmer said it was difficult for small cities to be credible as cultural capitals and said that Canterbury would be one of the smallest cities to win, if it was successful in seven years' time.

He said that Canterbury would have to rely on its regional context within east Kent and work alongside its neighbouring coastal districts. "I think it will be a very difficult struggle, but if Canterbury and east Kent is the underdog this may act as a spur," he said. "It may become an important joker in the pack which, with the right effort, could surprise everyone."

Mr Palmer said that perhaps Canterbury and the coastal towns had not yet summed up their cultural identity.

Once different councils began working together to analyse this issue, momentum would be created. He said the process would create a regional "creative think tank" that could only produce positive results.

"Culture isn't just about string quartets, ballets, operas and poetry readings," he said. "It must include all forms of expression. The winner of this contest will probably not be the city that comes up with projects unconnected to local people, but the one that best reflects what their aspirations are.

"So: Why do people continue to live in the east Kent coastal towns? What is it about Margate and Dover that attracts people? I believe there is a spirit about them."

He added that cynics should look back at the state of Glasgow less than 10 years before it won the title in 1990. Glasgow in the early 1980s made east Kent today look rather good," he added.