Twinning links could be set up with Poland

The town’s twinning association has been asked to consider joining with a town in an Eastern European country.

Press officer James Clevett said: “The chairman, Heather Perrott, told our annual meeting the proposal had been made to the committee because of the large number of Polish people living and working in the area.

“She explained the idea was being discussed.”

If it goes ahead, it will be the second twinning arrangement Bognor has with a country in the eastern half of Europe.

The first, with Trebbin, was set up in 1994 after connections from four years earlier were thought to be the first between the UK and the former communist East Germany after the barriers between east and west, such as the Berlin Wall, were lifted.

Mrs Perrott made her comments at the association’s latest annual meeting last week.

She was elected unopposed for the next 12 months. They will see the group forge links with some of its neighbours to further strengthen twinning.

“A full programme of social fundraising events is being planned for the coming year.

“Some will involve joining forces with Littlehampton, East Preston and Angmering who also have twin towns in Germany and France,” said Mr Clevett.

The main event of the past year reported to the association’s annual meeting last week at the town hall was a visit to the other German twin of Weil am Rhein to celebrate 25 years of twinning.

Mr Clevett said: “This year, it is the turn of the two German towns of Weil am Rhein and Trebbin to visit Bognor in August.”

All the committee members of the association were elected unopposed.

Mrs Perrott said she would like some new faces on the committee with new ideas.
She added several members joined last year and the association was always ready to welcome newcomers, especially younger people.

Bognor’s twinning began with the French town of St Maur des Fosses in1980.