Twinning link with Breton town backed

A LINK between Helston and the Breton town of Plougasnou has taken a significant step forward.

Helston town councillors on Thursday, with just one exception, agreed to support such an arrangement.

In fact one member, Mike Thomas, who is also a teacher at Helston community College – links between this area’s schools and Plougasnou are being actively encouraged – suggested that the more twins Helston had as a town, the better.

“I think we should consider other twins,” he told colleagues, proposing arrangements with towns in Spain, Ireland, Wales, “And why not even England?”

The only dissenting voice so far as Plougasnou was concerned came from David Swift, who was concerned about possible financial implications.

The council currently has a budget of just £100 for twinning used in the main for civic gifts when delegations from Helston’s longstanding Italian “twin” of Sasso Marconi visit Cornwall or vice versa.

One of the prime movers behind the intended Breton link, deputy mayor Vicki Matthew, hailed the successful Sasso exchange, which is now 42 years old, but added: “It is a very long way which makes it difficult for clubs and people with an interest over there.”

This led to expense and a longer time away. “A link with a Breton town makes it much easier for clubs to join in.”

There was already enthusiasm for a new twin – it will run side by side with the Sasso link – and Mrs Matthew added that at least three schools were particularly keen; Helston College, Parc Eglos CP and Trannack CP at Coverack Bridges whose head teacher Cherry Hawker had hailed it as a “very exciting possibility”.

After being told by town clerk Chris Dawson of the small twinning budget set aside, a number of councillors spoke of the positives of a new link if it was within that budget.

However, Mr Swift remained concerned that there should be “no extra cost” to the council but his amendment to that effect was not supported.