COUNCILLORS have called for a renewed attempt to secure a formal partnership between Poole and St John’s in Newfoundland, Canada. Members of the Poole charter trustees made the suggestion last week during discussions about the relationship with the town’s only twin – Cherbourg in France. The former leader of BCP Council, Councillor Vikki Slade, said it was “more important than ever” to secure links with other countries and that it would not be a taxpayer funded “jolly”. Links between Dorset and Newfoundland on the east coast of Canada date back centuries, particularly through the cod trade. Attempts were made several decades ago to twin Poole and St John’s – the capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, but were not pursued because of the distance between the two.