12:05pm Thursday 2nd September 2010
By Lauren Pyrah
PLANNED budget cuts in the town twinning department of Darlington’s German counterpart will not affect joint activities, a councillor has assured.
Although the proposed cuts will affect Mulheim Town Council’s twinning department, the German town’s twinning association will take on responsibility for many of the activities organised by the council.
All requests for educational and work experience exchanges, citizens’ trips, youth conferences and sporting events will now be dealt with by the voluntary association, while the town hall will deal solely with civic matters.
The changes at Mulhiem council are as a result of the worldwide economic downturn.
Darlington and District Twinning Association took on many of the social exchanges in 2003, following cuts to Darlington Borough Council’s twinning department.
The German town has been twinned with Darlington since 1953 and also has twin towns in France, Finland, Poland, Israel and Turkey.
So far this year, activities between the German town and Darlington have included German students visiting Darlington for work experience and an exchange between young apprentices at Siemens, in Muelhiem, and South West Durham Training, in Newton Aycliffe.
Other activities have included a cycle ride to Darlington’s French twin town, Amiens, in the Somme region.
Darlington councillor Tom Nutt, chairman of the twinning association, said activities between the two towns would be unaffected.
He said: “Since 1953, thousands of people from both towns have been involved in cultural exchanges and today the links between the towns are stronger than ever.
“Links exist between schools, colleges, Rotary clubs, Soroptomists, sports clubs, churches, training companies and businesses, as well as the civic and association ties, and this year has seen many exchange visits taking place.
“Despite the economic situation, the relationship between the two towns should continue to flourish because of the strong connections, and already exchanges have been planned for the remainder of the year and into next year.”
Activities planned for the rest of the year include Darlington Mayor Bryan Thistlethwaite travelling to Mulhiem later this month for the town’s City of Culture celebrations.
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