Trowbridge could twin with a city in war-torn Ukraine after town councillors gave the go-ahead for talks.
The unanimous decision to approve the request from Trowbridge mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper was made at the full council meeting on Tuesday, September 17.
The council will now open formal talks about a twinning agreement with officials in the city of Kostopil in western Ukraine
Cllr Cooper says the aim is to agree and sign a joint twinning charter with Kostopil which would be a ‘hugely symbolic’ show of support for the city while Ukraine is at war with Russia.
He said: “This has been a long-held and heartfelt desire of mine, and with good fortune, we'll now see it come to fruition.
"Trowbridge already has Twinning Charters in place with towns and cities in France, Germany, Morocco and Poland, and whilst signing a similar agreement with a city in Ukraine will not have any immediate practical effect on either community, it will have huge symbolic significance for both.
"Now that the Town Council has given the go-ahead, the formal discussions with Kostopil can start. I truly believe that this sends a very positive message of solidarity to a community much like ours in an unfairly war-torn country.
“This initiative is supported by our Ukrainian residents here in Trowbridge, and unofficially we’ve heard that the city we have in mind is more than open to the idea.
“I truly believe that it sends a very positive message of solidarity to a rather beleaguered community in an unfairly war-torn country.”
Representatives from the local Ukrainian community attended Tuesday’s meeting and councillors were shown a short film about Kostopil in the Rivne Oblast of western Ukraine which has a population of just over 30,800.
Cllr Cooper's proposal follows the influx of a 'strong and vibrant' community of Ukrainian women and children in Trowbridge.
He added: “They need to know that we don’t just welcome them to our town, but we also understand their heartache and want to show this in some tangible way. That reason gets more profound, and to my mind urgent, as each day passes.
“Secondly, I think it’s important that we send a message to the people of a community in a town much like ours in Ukraine itself.
“They need to know that there are still people, not governments, real people living in real communities like theirs, that feel for them and want to send a message of friendship and solidarity.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here