Hay wins Timbuktu bid

2.26.15pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 7th Feb 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has welcomed the news that the town of Hay-on-Wye has beaten off 52 other British venues to twin with Timbuktu.

An active and enthusiastic committee of local people in the town have been working hard for many months to secure the bid, which they feel will bring benefits both here in Wales and in the legendary African city.

Ms Williams said: "I am so pleased that Hay has succeeded in their bid. There was stiff competition from a number of other towns and cities across Britain, including York and Glastonbury, but the more involved I became with this project, the more connections between Hay and Timbuktu I found. Both are famed for their historical import, literary and artistic excellence and, of course, inaccessibility! I also know that the local people who've been working on this bid are keen to do what they can to raise awareness of the huge problems facing modern Timbuktu, and do what they can to help, and I look forward to being part of some of their projects in the future."

Notes:

· Ms Williams was actively involved in the Hay twinning bid, having met with the organising committee on several occasions. She wrote a personal letter of support for their bid, and obtained a letter on their behalf from First Minister Rhodri Morgan, as well as tabling a Statement of Opinion at the Assembly, to raise awareness of the bid among other Assembly Members.