Twinning row (From Cotswold Journal)

Twinning row

12:00pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in Letters

WHAT a shame that the Evesham Journal chose to feature Coun Bulman’s intemperate and inaccurate comments about the Twinning Association so prominently on the very day that 34 visitors from Evesham, New Jersey, arrived in our town for a two-week stay.

All town councillors, past and present, who have visited any of our twin towns, whether in the States or elsewhere in Europe know that they have to pay the full cost of travel out of their own pocket.

Accommodation is free as visitors are hosted in family homes.

The understanding is that the Evesham UK twinner returns the favour to our visitors.

Not one penny of any grant made to the association has ever been used to subsidise anyone’s travel or hosting expenses.

The money is used to organise events during visits – during the present visit one event is in aid of the Mayor’s Charity and its proceeds will directly benefit the people of Evesham, England.

In addition, our American visitors will collectively be spending a great deal more in Evesham shops, eateries and tourist locations than the grant awarded, bringing a boost to Evesham’s economy.

Twinning is simply about friendship between ordinary citizens of other countries. Anyone who lives in the Vale of Evesham is welcome to join the Association.

HELEN PIPER, Evesham