The leaders of all four political parties on Bristol City Council are backing the city’s bid to be European Green Capital 2014.
Bristol found out earlier this month from the European Commission that it is one of only three cities – and the only from the UK – in the running for the prestigious title.
It is now competing against Copenhagen and Frankfurt.
A team from Bristol City Council, Bristol Green Capital, Bristol Water and Wessex Water are now working around the clock on the final bid presentation, which will be presented to a jury in Brussels on June 8.
Bristol City Council leader and head of the LibDem group Cllr Barbara Janke said: “We’re delighted to have cross party support for this prestigious award and we hope the city will back us too. We have an excellent story to tell the jury about our successes through the actions of the council, its partners, green organisations and our local residents. We will be going to Brussels determined to bring the crown home for Bristol.”
Labour group leader Cllr Peter Hammond said: “This is a great accolade for the city and we should be immensely proud of ourselves for making it to the final shortlist for the second time. Bristol has a strong track record for green innovation and partnership-working in this field, and hopefully the jury will see the great strides we have taken in the last few years and award us the title.”
Leader of the Conservatives Cllr Peter Abraham added: “We are extremely proud of Bristol for proving its worth when pitched against a number of leading European cities. Over the next few weeks, I hope the whole city will come together to show its support for this bid. Bristol already considers itself to be the UK’s leading green city and now we need to go all out to become the Green Capital of Europe.”
Cllr Tess Green, leader of the Green party, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be in the final three for European Green Capital 2014. Bristol has been planning for many years to be a more sustainable city, with decades of grass roots support. By 2020 we are aiming to become one of Europe’s top 20 cities for sustainability, quality of life and achievement, and taking the title of European Green Capital 2014 would really help to show that we are well on the way to achieving this.”
Bristol Business News is supporting Bristol’s bid. To pledge support or find out more, go to http://bristolgreencapital.org/european-green-capital-award-2014/.
