‘Blimp of Welsh air’ to be taken to Walsall as Wrexham unveils new twinning partner

As it is after midday – this was of course an April Fool! You can see others from today: Protestors occupy Holt / Farndon bridge as it is selected as ‘Brexit Hard Border Trial Site’ , Welsh Assembly to open ‘innovate’ new Shrewsbury HQ to ‘link South, Mid and North Wales’, ‘Blimp of Welsh air’ to be taken to Walsall as Wrexham unveils new twinning partner.

Enjoy those? Here are some more from previous years…  2017: Council To Launch Helicopter Tours Of Gresford Roundabout Potholes, Queues Outside Guildhall As Thousands Log Off Facebook & Register To Vote Instead, Clean-up Operation Underway As Police Station Tower Falls Over In Storm 2016: ‘Bubble Bus’ For Wrexhamites Shopping In Chester, St Giles Set To Get ‘Digital Clockface’ In Upgrade Plans 2015: Plan To Put Roof On Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre 2014: Possible ‘HMP Chester’ Name For Wrexham Prison 2013: A483 To Become Toll Road In New Trial 2012: Council Declare Wrexham as ‘Capital City of Wales’. We didn’t exist for 2011…!

Original ‘Fool’ from this morning below….

Wrexham is set to be formally twinned with Walsall later this year in a lavish two day ceremony showing off both towns.

Grant Consultants who specialise in town twinning created a lottery style system to pair areas through the UK. Melanie Grant explained: “With the Twin2020 goal of creating five new partner areas over the next two years we were looking to match Walsall with a strong area or town.”

Business partner and sister Martina Grant added: “We were delighted with the plans put forward by Wrexham Council, who have jumped in with the celebrations, going that bit further than other bids to make the choice a no brainer.”

Wrexham Council’s Patrick Sharp outlined the town’s bid: “The eyecatching main event will be the clean air blimp, sending some of our very own welsh air down to the black country however there are many other partnerships in the background that will give a mutual financial boost.”

The PDF of the plans explains: “The blimp will be flown down following the route of the M6 with branded advertisements for Wrexham on one side. It will land in the Bescot Stadium in Walsall, where a pitch cover bubble will be place on the ground to allow around 1,000 local people inside.”

The document explains: “Once secured the welsh air will be pumped inside the all ticket event” , with brummies being charged £25 for ten minutes of clean air.

Social media reaction has been lukewarm to the plans, with Gary posting on his MySpace: “They have taken our Chief Executive, our football manager and now they are taking our air?” with another saying it is “a load of hot air”.

Twinning activities had previously been suspended by Wrexham Council for budgetary reasons, and it is thought a grant from Birmingham has been provided to enable Walsall to do something new.

Councillors will meet later this month to sign off on the plans.