Features / Interviews
Green capital: what Bristol thinks
On Tuesday we published our feature looking at whether Bristol’s year as European Green Capital had been a success or a flop. Over the past few weeks we have been asking the people of Bristol what they thought.
We took a small sample and first asked if they knew Bristol was European Green Capital and second if the year had made them think differently about the environment. Here’s what they said:
Isabelle Fink, 21, student, St Paul’s
Yes. Generally I try to be quite environmental anyway so it didn’t make much difference. But it’s nice to see that Bristol is very conscious about the problem compared to other cities.
James Wook, 49, lawyer, Brislington
No. I don’t feel any difference because I still see there are still lots of cars on the road every day.
Andy Cook, 26, Barber, Gloucester Road
Yes, but I only know because I work next to the Green Capital offices. It hasn’t particularly made me think differently. I already do recycling and try to be careful about my waste.
Jan, retired, Stokes Croft
No, I had no idea. I don’t really see any difference, especially for people my age. I don’t think they’ve made it very appealing to get involved.
Edward Gaut, 34, cleaner, Brislington
Yes. Yes I do feel there is less pollution in the air making the air cleaner.
Melita, 32, PHD student, Montpelier
Yes. It is definitely a good thing that it’s happened, I think it raises the awareness of the problems.
Wendy, 61, domestic cleaner, Frenchay
Yes. But I don’t think Bristol should’ve even been made the Green Capital of Europe, there’s always lots of trees being cut down. I don’t agree with it at all.
Joury, 70 , Labourer, Montpelier
No, no idea. I can’t see any changes for me personally, but I hope to see the Bristol air become more clear, fresh and I hope we get a greener city overall.
Kuba, 25, teaching assistant, Southmead
Yes. I think it’s good that it’s going on, but it hasn’t really changed my opinion on the matter.
Chris White, 25, PHD student, Clifton
Yes. It hasn’t changed anything for me. I know they’ve made some nice cycle lanes but it’s still not a really nice place to cycle.
Mauro Artigiani, 26, PHD student, city centre
Yes. I don’t know much about it so it hasn’t really changed much for me. It does make me think about public transport which sucks in this city. I’ve seen events with Bristol Green Capital, but I couldn’t name one.
Claire Tompkins, 40, senior technician, Hanham
Yes. I haven’t noticed a change though. I think the cycling’s the only thing which seems to be changing, but that and the MetroBus seem to be more for one side of the city only.
Andrew Sanger, 21, student, Clifton
Yes. The Wills Memorial building lit up green, but that’s all I’ve noticed happening. They had that bus that was run on poo, but I honestly don’t know much else about it.