Daily Express: JUST CALL US POLAND SAY CITY OF MIGRANTS

Wednesday July 18,2012

By Anil Dawar

A PRETTY cathedral city has become so over-run with eastern European migrants that fed-up residents have defaced its official welcome sign to rename it Poland.

Visitors to Hereford are now greeted with the words “Welcome to Poland”.

The unofficial name-change reflects resentment by some that an estimated 2,500 Polish workers now live and work in the area. Councillors also raised concerns yesterday that the huge influx is “tipping the balance”.

Independent county councillor Sebastian Bowen said: “There is always going to be suspicion from people when a large number of people come to an area, particularly one as rural as this.

“It is always a balancing act and I understand some people think the balance has been tipped too far in favour of Polish workers.”

The growing tension comes as figures revealed the number of people living in England and Wales surged by 3.7 million in a decade with more than half due to immigration.

Previous figures for rural areas showed a 209 per cent rise in National Insurance registrations by migrant workers from 2003 to 2006 – with tenfold increases in Herefordshire.

Polish missionary worker Ania Talalaj said: “I am proud of the Polish people who come here to earn a living. We love England and do not want any trouble.”