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County Durham seeks to forge global links with twin towns

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www.bbc.co.uk

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Bishop Auckland Town Hall, a Gothic Revival Style building. There are three large concrete balls on the ground outside. The building is reflected in a puddle outside and the sky is grey. There is a church to the right of the Town Hall and red-brick houses on the left.

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County Durham approves new town-twinning links with France and Italy

Overview

Durham County Council has approved the reinstatement of a town-twinning link between Bishop Auckland and Ivry-sur-Seine in France, alongside a new relationship between County Durham and Castiglione dei Pepoli in Italy. Discussions for a potential link with Tauranga in New Zealand are also underway. Despite its Reform UK administration's anti-EU stance, council officials emphasised that the partnerships are based on community ties, shared heritage, and culture rather than opposing Europe itself.

Key points

  • Durham County Council approved the reinstatement of a twinning link between Bishop Auckland and Ivry-sur-Seine near Paris, which originally began in 1962 but lapsed in 2002.
  • A new link has been approved between County Durham and Castiglione dei Pepoli in Italy, focusing on collaboration in culture, heritage, and tourism.
  • Discussions are also taking place regarding a potential arrangement with Tauranga in New Zealand, which has historical ties to the Durham Light Infantry.
  • Deputy leader Darren Grimes stated that the council's opposition to the EU does not mean being against Europe or cutting ties with continental communities.
  • The local authority already maintains international partnerships with locations in Germany, Slovakia, Spain, and the United States, while a partnership with Kostroma in Russia was ended in 2022.
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