Possible twin town in Poland
7:45am Thursday 25th October 2007
A NEW twin town for Basingstoke, possibly in Poland, will be discussed when councillors meet to decide whether the twinning service is "fit for purpose".
The twinning panel - consisting of councillors and members of the public - will discuss the proposal, which could see a link with a town in Poland or China.
Basingstoke is currently twinned with Alençon in France, Braine-l'Alleud in Belgium and Euskirchen in Germany.
While the borough council wishes to maintain links with these places, the panel will discuss whether a link with a town from another country would deliver a further boost to Basingstoke.
Councillors believe that a new twin town could have a strong impact on the town's economy and image. The panel will also discuss whether to establish a link with a developing country, possibly in Africa.
The proposal for the October 31 meeting comes as the twinning panel seeks to improve its efficiency and make sure it is "fit for purpose".
The borough council currently spends around £4,500 a year on twinning costs, such as school exchanges and visits to the towns.
A further £3,000 is spent on the Festival of Sport, an annual competition between around 400 sports participants from Basingstoke and Deane and Euskirchen. It is held in Basingstoke once every two years.
The borough council has also received more than £70,000 in grants over the past five years for twinning activities.
The panel will also discuss the planned Christmas tour of Alençon for Basingstoke residents on December 13.
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