LEADERS in the East Sussex town of Crowborough have voted to remain twinned with Horwich — despite calls for the 25-year-old arrangement to be ended.

A meeting of Crowborough’s Town Council last month saw arguments between elected members on whether their association with Horwich was worth continuing, with some claiming there were no benefits for either community.

But at the council’s following meeting members voted to retain the relationship and plans are already in place to boost the bond between the two towns.

Crowborough’s town mayor Cllr Ron Reed will be heading to Horwich on December 5 for the town’s Christmas lights switch on event — with his opposite number, Cllr Richard Silvester, invited to the East Sussex town for a carol concert on December 2.

There are also plans to cement the twinning partnership with official events to mark the 25-year-anniversary of the arrangement in March next year.

The two towns became twinned in 1990 in what was a historic move as it was the first time towns within England had been twinned with each other.

Speaking after the vote Cllr Ron Reed said: “I was very pleased that the vote went the way of retaining the relationship and I have now been given the task of starting up work to mark the 25th year anniversary next year.

“In the end it was only a couple of councillors who voted against it and I think the rest of us realised this is something both towns can use to our advantage.

“I look forward to meeting Cllr Silvester next month and we will sit down and have a chat about what we can do.”

Cllr Silvester said he was also “very pleased” with the result, particularly as he has previously cited the rejuvenation of the relationship between the two towns as one of his aims in his year as Horwich’s civic leader.

He added: “Horwich is a buzzing town with a great deal going on and with the 25th anniversary of our twin town agreement in March next year, I believe that this is a tremendous opportunity to improve links and in particular between our sporting teams and clubs.

"Horwich Town Council will in due course discuss the 25th anniversary and we will stay in touch with our colleagues in Crowborough about this.

“I look forward to welcoming the Town Mayor to help switch on the Horwich Christmas Lights with me in December.”