Although the eyes of the world were on America this week as the people of the States elected a new president, an important democratic decision was also made this side of the pond. For the people of Narberth voted on whether the town should twin with Ludlow in Shropshire. A ballot was taken and a public meeting held last Thursday for local residents to find out more about the project and give their views. And after counting the votes, which showed the majority in favour of the project by 163 votes to 42, Clr. Wynne Evans proposed the town accepts Ludlow's offer to twin. He was seconded by Clr. Suzanne Radford-Smith at the town council's monthly meeting on Tuesday night and members agreed. "I feel it will be great for the town," said the town's Mayor, Clr. Henry Langen. "It is absolutely brilliant." At the public meeting, chaired by Clr. Langen, 10 local residents and eight members of the council heard from Clr. Peter Stock, Pembrokeshire County Council's cabinet member for communities and voluntary sector, who gave a brief overview of twinning and how it was working between Haverfordwest and a town they have twinned with in Germany. "Narberth should feel honoured to be asked to twin with a town the size of Ludlow and he stated that Narberth had a lot to offer and felt that it would definitely help with trade and tourism," said Clr. Henry Langen. "County Clr. Stock reported that the disadvantages of twinning were far outweighed by the advantages." Although one of the main concerns of the public was the cost involved, Clr. Stock said that the cost was minimal and that in Haverfordwest councillors had paid for themselves to go on visits to the town in Germany. The only cost was for the Mayor, as his visits were made to represent Haverfordwest. Narberth Food Festival members Jackie Palit and Peter Preece were also at the meeting and they explained that the festival had in principal already twinned with Ludlow, with both towns already working on culinary projects together. "It was thought that Narberth should feel honoured to be asked to twin with Ludlow and from what was said at the meeting, there were no negative reasons as to why the twinning should not go ahead," added Clr. Langen. One of the first twinning events is expected to be a rugby match between Narberth and Ludlow in the New Year.