A new honorary consulate of the Republic of Poland was opened today in Trowbridge in south-west England. It is to facilitate the provision of consular assistance to approx. 70,000 Poles living in this region.
The function of Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Trowbridge was assumed by a former policeman, lecturer and social activist, Simon Selby, and the Polish Ambassador, Arkady Rzegocki, took part in the opening ceremony.
The consular office covers the counties of Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset. Its creation is related to the fact that the region of south-west England is inhabited by over 70,000 Polish citizens, largely emigrated after 2004, and the distance from Trowbridge to the nearest consulates is 183 km to London and 302 km to Manchester.
Moreover, as indicated by the Polish Embassy, the withdrawal of Great Britain from the European Union created a number of new challenges in supporting the Polish community living in this region of England.
It was explained that the creation of a new honorary consulate will, among others, improve the provision of necessary consular assistance to Polish citizens.