
Driving through Poynton, I note they are twinned with somewhere. I believe Stockport are (or if I’m out of date, were) twinned with Beziers in the South of France.
I don’t think that Alderley Edge is twinned with anywhere (if we are, please tell me).
Why should we do twinning?
- For ‘fun’ e.g. school exchange visits, sporting things, house swops etc. etc.
- I think that we should ‘market’ Alderley Edge and twinning is one approach to that aim.
I believe that twinning is usually with a place of approximately equal size and economic status…ah well, that rules out Los Angeles and Rio!
Tell me please; would twinning be a good thing and if so, with where?
I’d favour somewhere sunny, though perhaps not North Africa at this time!.
Of course, twinning doesn’t have to be with only one other place.
This is a member post by Councillor Duncan Herald.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
France is obviously my first thought as it was these exchange visits that started me on the path to a language course but with Manchester Airport on the doorstep and so many flights available the world is our oyster!
The pupils from Heilbronn ans Beziers visited Stockport and we all ran around Woodbank Park in the rain! I would have preferred it if they had have held the games.
If it could be arranged without any council worker getting a payed holiday, and it not costing too much, then yes, it may well be a good idea.
Also as councillor Herald . who posted this news and discussion topic , said "Of course, twinning doesn’t have to be with only one other place."
Kirsteen... France sounds good... any places to suggest? South/Sun?
David... what can Rothenburg give us?
Fenton... will enough A/E people want to go to a place such as you have in mind? If enough people say yes, then why not?
I believe that there are organisations that can advise/help with twinning? Does anyone know about such?
By the way... long ago when I used to go to 'play' near Beziers, I recall that they were aware of Stockport e.g. you could buy S/K College T-shirts in Beziers... is it possible that other countries take the twinning thing more to heart than 'we' do?
I did write above that we prob. wouldn't twin with a large city, but I take Jon's point that we could twin with a village on the edge of a large place ('they' might see us as just an adjunct to M/C?).
More comments please; I'll email my colleagues and ask them to read all the above.
Perhaps you could all sound out your friends/colleagues who live in places which you think would be good to twin with?
I'd suggest a village in Normandy. I have good links with numerous Mairies and am sure we should get an enthusiastic response (and they could use their their Euros slush funds coming to spend money with us!).
The number of people with unatural orange variations of skin tone!
Sandrine; thank you for being positive...where had you in mind exactly?
Annecy would be wonderful, especially as there are regular flights from M/C to Geneva. However, with the poor euro exchange rate and for more cultural diversity and stimulation how about somewhere in Morocco or sub Sahara,( but don't ask me to organise it). Good luck to those who do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_towns_and_sister_cities
Personally I have failed to see any tangible benefit from it, it's been positioned in the past as an opportunity for cultural exchange etc but rarely have I seen it achieve such benefits.
However 'if' it's cost neutral in these dire economic climes I guess it can do no harm. If it drains budgets and is an excuse for 'jollies' abroad, I think it's a luxury we could do without.
Certainly at the moment.
I think it can be an interesting way to see other places, and Alderley Edge has much to offer. I like the idea of a nice French village, preferably near Sancerre, Duncan, if you can get Sandrine to organise it.
This twinning stuff kind of went on the back burner for a while... apologies... got bogged down with parking/residents' permits/highways stuff. not to mention the perennial Medical Centre hopes.
Recap time... several suggestions from you all... some a tad tongue-in-cheek?
Suggestions so far are: Monte Carlo, Rothenburk ob der Tauber, somewhere with 4-5,000 people, France, a Normandy Village, Annecy (or a small village on the outskirts of), Morrocco (please send me on a fact-finding visit to Richard Branson's place there! please! It would be stressful, but I'd do it just for you!), Pezenas (near Bezier?) and Sancerre area.
I'll try to get on with this a bit... in the meantime, any further places to suggest?