News from Peterborough City Council

Peterborough will showcase its environmental credentials for the benefit of other large cities in the East of England at a carbon reduction workshop organised by Regional Cities East on Tuesday 9 December 2008.

 

The workshop, being held in Cambridge, aims to help councils throughout the region identify techniques for taking the lead in reducing carbon emissions.  Initial plans will concentrate on improving the carbon reduction performance of business, existing housing and transport.

 

Trevor Gibson, director of environment capital with local regeneration company Opportunity Peterborough, will open the workshop with a keynote presentation about how the city is setting a lead nationally with its commitment to sustainable growth.

 

Later, Nicola Francis from Peterborough City Council's Travelchoice team, will describe how a range of initiatives are persuading people to reduce carbon emissions by choosing travel options that do not depend on 'single-occupant' car journeys.

 

The new measures, including the introduction of workplace travel plans, have resulted in higher numbers of people using public transport, car-sharing, cycling and walking.

 

Trevor Gibson said:  "Local residents and businesses are supporting the work of the city council, Opportunity Peterborough and the Peterborough Environment City Trust in putting environmental considerations at the top of the agenda.  I believe other towns and cities can benefit from Peterborough's experience as it creates the UK's environment capital."

 

Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) formally launched Peterborough's 'Creating the UK's environment capital' campaign at its 15^th anniversary celebrations on 19 November.

 

 

Notes:

 

Regional Cities East is an alliance of six cities in the East of England supported by the East of England Regional Development Agency and the Government Office for the East of England.  The six cities, Peterborough, Luton, Ipswich, Norwich, Colchester and Southend-on-Sea, believe that by sharing best practice, collaborating on joint ventures and setting clear priorities, they can create more jobs and affordable homes than they could by working alone. They share a common belief - that medium sized cities can deliver economic growth in a sustainable way. And they face common challenges to improve infrastructure and skill levels.

 

The six cities aim to deliver more wealth, jobs and homes by collaborating to deliver economic and housing growth with benefits to all sections of the community.  They hope to set an example for other groups of smaller cities and to help the UK as a whole to harness the economic, social and cultural potential of its smaller cities. For more information visit: www.rce.org.uk.