Discussion was heated
Former Stirling provost Fergus Wood hit our at the“aggressive and objectionable “attitude of a community councillor in a heated discussion on a possible twinning link.
Mr Wood attended last Thursday’s meeting of Mercat Cross and City Centre community council to put forward the idea of a possible connection between it and Châtillonsur-Indre, a French town 40 miles from Tours with a population of 3000.
Like Stirling, medieval Châtillonsur-Indre is steeped in history and has the remains of a wall, castle and keep.
It is synonymous with the Auld Alliance of France and Scotland. That’s because between 1419 and 1424, it was the headquarters of about 2000 Scottish soldiers who went over to help King Charles VII of France in his battle against the English.
Ex-SNP councillor Wood told councillors Châtillon-sur-Indre was now wishing to set up a twinnng link with a Scottish community in time for next year when celebrations will be held to mark the 600th anniversary of the year when Scottish troops descended on the town.
He had been contacted about a possible twinning arrangement by Patrick Gilles, president of the Auld Alliance Association.
“I thought Mercat Cross and City Centre Community Council would be the perfect partners for this link because of its location in the Top of the Town, close to Stirling Castle,” added Mr Wood. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to bring together the community, Allans Primary and the castle and I am confident that Historic Environment Scotland (who operate the castle) will support such a project.”
Community councillor Stuart Baird wanted to know how many people in the Top of the Town would benefit and who would pay for people in the Stirling to visit France. Mr Wood said: “It’s a chance for you to visit them and them to visit you. It’s bringing people together. If you believe in that concept, fine, if not, don’t vote for it.”
Community councillor Linda Friel thought they were being “presented with something that had already been decided”.
And community councillor Jim Fisher felt the proposal was being railroaded through and in a number of heated exchanges made references to the SNP affiliations of Mr Wood, community council chairman Andrew Szwebs and other members of the community council.
There was also a claim that Mr Szwebs should have declared an interest in the item even though he insisted he had no such interest in the matter and had brought it to the attention of the community council so they could decide if it went forward.
A clearly angry Mr Wood insisted party politics had nothing to do with the proposal and he told Mr Fisher: “I find your attitude objectionable and aggressive.”
Mr Szwebs said: “We have a duty to show respect to each other, visitors and guests. I can see that what has been said has upset Fergus and we should be ashamed.”
Following the meeting, Mr Fisher said he had been “forthright” in his remarks but neither aggressive not objectionable”. “Not one of us has heard anyone in this area say why don’t we get twinned with a medieval city in France,” he added. “It is nothing to do with us.”