Shrewsbury link to Galapagos Islands evolves into nothing
Tuesday 27th July 2010, 11:35AM BST.
Plans to twin Shrewsbury with the islands where Charles Darwin first got the ideas for his ground-breaking theory of evolution have been ditched as it would cost too much, a councillor said today.
Investigations into a possible link between the scientist’s home town and the Galapagos Islands first surfaced in 2002.
The former Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council was exploring ways to establish the partnership but Shrewsbury Town Council has now dropped the idea.
Councillor Peter Nutting today said the authority had also abandoned plans to twin with Lithgow in Australia, a place Darwin visited, as well as Skofja Loka in Slovenia and Bayreuth in Germany.
Mr Nutting said the town was committed to spending its budget on the existing twinning link with Zutphen in the Netherlands.
He said: “I understand we are sticking with the present arrangements – the twinning with Zutphen and not planning to do any more.
“The Galapagos link is dead. We welcome them here as visitors and will look if there are any ways we can work together on small things but we haven’t got the resources to do anything more.”
In 2003 Neil Kenny, of Somerwood, near Shrewsbury, offered his services to council officers in order to help twin the town with the exotic South American islands.
Mr Kenny claimed a twinning link with the Galapagos Islands could enhance the Darwin attraction and could do for Shrewsbury tourism what Shakespeare did for Stratford.
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
PLEASE stop scraping for things to affiliate shrewsbury with Darwin it has been exploited enough he left when he was 6years old and never gave it a second thought again . Shrewsbury has another son who achieved much in his time Vice Admiral Benbow alas he may not be PC enough for this council…or the select few who tell the good people of shrewsbury what is good for shrewsbury.
Report abuse
Dear Andrew Finch please check your facts as to when Darwin left Shrewsbury.
From Henry Quinn
Report abuse
Just set up a virtual twinning on the web. Cheap as chips!
Report abuse