By Justin Madders

MP for Ellesmere Port

FOR many years a successful twinning arrangement has existed between Ellesmere Port and the city of Reutlingen in southern Germany.

People from our town have been encouraged to travel to stay with families from Reutlingen in Baden-Wurttemberg while German guests have been welcomed by hosts living in and around the Port.

Now the COVID-19 pandemic is hopefully long gone, attempts have been made to revive twinning travels and I was privileged at the weekend to join a small delegation from our town on a visit to Reutlingen. Students from The Whitby High School are among those who have also been on a trip to Reutlingen recently. Whilst we were made most welcome by our European hosts I certainly did not expect the visit to attract the attention of news providers including the BBC! It would appear a few alarm bells rung back home after we were greeted in Germany by a freak hailstorm during the summer month of August which was apparently of such proportions that climate change suspicions were understandably aroused again.

We learned a great deal about the history of Reutlingen and it was interesting to note that German residents are encountering many of the critical problems that we are facing in the UK. Demographic changes to the workforce, finding sustainable energy sources and a lack of housing were all themes that will be familiar to us in the UK. I feel sure Reutlingen residents will be provided with an interesting itinerary on their next trip to our part of the world and I was grateful of Reutlingen Mayor Thomas Keck for being a genial host and for Fritz and Jenny Schafer of the Friends of Reutlingen Group for being our translators/guides.

Back home on Monday and I was out on the town with staff of Cheshire West and Chester Council Street Scene to learn about the work that they carry out on our behalf and to note some of the challenges they face - one of them being recruiting people to join the workforce.

On my tour I learned that there are around 450 bins to be emptied locally. I joined crews who were emptying in the Rivacre Valley area as well as calling in to do some reactive clear ups on reports of fly tipping around the town.I then joined the workforce who were clearly up a disgusting mess in one Ellesmere Port alleyway which residents will know are in a constant battle to keep clear. And that is the nub of this; the staff are extremely hard working yet no sooner have they cleared up one spot that another pops up.

Much more of what is thrown away by the public is recycled nowadays and a couple of weeks ago I was pleased to visit the Recresco in Ellesmere Port to note the investment being made in recycling materials such as aluminium and glass. Seeing every last scrap of cans and bottles being repurposed was hugely impressive.

Recycling really is big business nowadays and the more we can contribute as householders to the general effort, the better it will certainly be for everyone.