Tranent to be twinned with Germany's Trebsen

TRANENT is set to be twinned with a Germany town which hosts its own Highland Games.

Trebsen, situated in Saxony, welcomes pipe bands and other Scottish traditions every September and now wants to pair up with a companion.

The Fa’side Area Partnership has now said that Trebsen, which is situated in the Leipzig district of the country, should become a twin of Tranent or the whole Fa’side area.

Simon Davie, from Fa’side Area Partnership, said he was keen to hear local residents’ views on the matter.

He said: “Trebsen has made a request for twinning and it may be something which could be considered by Tranent or by Fa’side as an area. We have been discussing whether we want to twin the town on its own or twin Fa’side as a community. We are keen to hear views.”

Trebsen’s records date back to the 12th century and, as well as its Highland Games event, the German town regularly hosts whisky evenings and dog herding competitions featuring border collies.

This year’s games are being held on the weekend beginning September 16 and will include traditional Scottish events such as caber tossing, a toast to the haggis and Highland dancing.

Councillor Donald Grant, of the Fa’side ward, said he though twinning with Trebsen would be a positive development. He said: “I thinks it’s a good idea because Fa’side is one of the only areas in East Lothian that hasn’t been twinned.

“It has quite a large population so I think it would be beneficial but discussions are still at a very early stage.”

For a number of years, the European Commission has encouraged the forging of links between different areas of Europe to encourage closer relationships of towns, cities and regions.

East Lothian now has several active twinning links – some of these include Haddington with Aubigny-sur-Nere, in France, and Dunbar with Lignieres, in France. Prestonpans, Cockenzie, Port Seton & Longiddry twinned with Barga, Italy, in 2006, after realising their mutual interest in the work of artist, John Bellany.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “Twinning has been a very popular initiative with towns and areas offering opportunities for cultural, education and business links. We are aware that the Fa’Side Partnership is currently discussing a possible new twinning link and are interested to hear how these discussions progress.”

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