Bristol will make a fresh bid for the title of European Green Capital next year, one of the key campaigners of this year’s failed bid has said.
Speaking at the Bristol Harbour Festival’s Happy City zone at the weekend, Darren Hall told Bristol24-7 that agreement had been reached to make the bid for the 2015 title.
The Partnership Manager at Bristol Green Capital said all that was required was an official confirmation of cross-party support from the city council, which he expected later this week.
Bristol was beaten into second place by Copenhagen in the race to become European Green Capital 2014, at an event in Spain last month.
The city’s bid received wide-ranging support nationally and locally, including endorsement from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband.
The bid proved Bristol was the UK’s lead city for the environmental sector and is now firmly on the European map as a centre for green business, according to the Bristol Green Capital team.
“Bristol was only beaten into second place by Copenhagen, a fantastic green city, and we were praised for so many things we are doing here,” said Mr Hall.
“Most importantly, it is bringing the city together, and that is why we want to carry on and bid once again for 2015.
“We need official approval to bid once again from Bristol City Council, but we are hopeful to get this later in the week. But all the key stakeholders are agreed that the city should try again.”
A new bid would be the third that Bristol has made for the title, with the city being beaten for the 2011 and 2014 titles by Stockholm and Copenhagen respectively.
The European Green Capital Award aims to provide an incentive for cities to inspire each other, share best practices and become role models. The winning city is chosen each year by a panel of judges from the EC. There is no financial prize with the award.
I understand Copenhagen has the most expensive water in Europe. Going green has a cost!
I'm amazed that Bristol, which suffers so badly from air pollution caused by motor traffic, should even be considered for the title 'Green Capital'. How on earth did we manage to come second?