Prince Charles will open the Start Living Advice Centre
An advice centre that aims to help people and businesses become more sustainable is officially opened in Bristol by Prince Charles today.
The Start Living Advice Centre in Cabot Circus is one of a national chain of drop-in centres offering information on how individuals and firms can reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment.
The centres are part of a national initiative led by the Prince of Wales. The Prince is touring the UK by the bio-fuel powered Royal Train, stopping at 10 towns and cities to promote sustainable living.
Taking part in the Bristol centre launch today are:
- Sustrans – the city-based organisation encouraging fitness and improved health benefits as well reduced traffic congestion through a national and regional cycle network.
- Centre for Sustainable Energy – it has advised more than 60,000 residents on how to reduce their energy costs and provided advice to more than 250,000 people on energy savings.
- The University of Bristol is showcasing a wind-driven car that is currently in production.
- The Green Capital Group, which brings together a range of community partners who are working with Business in the Community to create a greener city.
- Representatives from BT, Bristol Zoo Gardens, John Lewis Partnership, MITIE, Carbon Advice Group, Project Graphics and others who helped to set up the Start Living Centre will outline their involvement with the project.
Peaches Golding, Business in the Community’s director of special projects, said: “Business in the Community has a successful track record of helping the corporate sector to find the best way of working with local communities for the benefit of people and planet.”
The Prince will be joined by The Duchess of Cornwall and will meet clients and coaches from Business Action on Homelessness and The Prince’s Trust and watch a performance by a gospel choir.
Cabot Circus, jointly owned by Land Securities and Hammerson, has provided the space for the Start Living Advice Centre free of charge.
“We are delighted to be able to assist this worthwhile project, which will offer free advice to businesses and individuals to help them make positive behaviour choices,” said James Bailey, Cabot Circus centre manager.
“As a centre, we have a strong track record of sustainability, having been recognised as the UK’s first retail project of its kind to achieve the highest BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. Environmental considerations have always been integral to Cabot Circus – from the overall design philosophy and integration with the existing city centre, to waste minimisation and use of energy and water efficiency features.”
I'm amazed that Cabot Circus can put claim to having given any consideration to environmental impact when designing the Centre, with such features as the multitude of 24-hour operating fluorescent light tubes of its show piece car park garrage flying straight in your face, as one approaches down the 'sustainable' transport route of the M32 with a petrol-guzzling 4×4!