Liverpool council to outline plans to become European Green Capital
Liverpool council wants to see the city crowned European Green Capital of Europe.
Plans being mooted include one of the biggest construction projects ever seen in the city including office blocks entirely powered by their own “clean, green” energy sources.
The city’s Labour leaders said it was their proposal to “re-power North Liverpool” using sustainable fuel sources.
Only last week the Lib-Dems announced it would be sending a report written by deputy leader Cllr Richard Kemp to 300 organisations across the city setting out the group’s vision to become European Green Capital in the next decade.
Lib-Dem leader Cllr Paula Keaveney said at the time. “The reason we are setting out this document is because we are fearful the city has no direction, the Labour party has no vision.”
But that was rejected by the council today with a spokesman saying it had been working on the plan for a month.
The Chamber of Commerce has appointed a full time officer to weigh up the costs and potential benefits of putting in the bid. Council environment and regeneration chiefs said they wanted to be sure at a time of massive spending cuts it could find the cash to back up the plans.
Council cabinet member for regeneration Cllr Malcolm Kennedy and environment chief Cllr Tim Moore have been working closely on the project and said work was well on its way.
Cllr Kennedy said: “We’ve come up with plans for an office building in Vauxhall Road that will be powered by a combined heating and power plant.
“It already has planning permission. Basically, we want to re-power North Liverpool.
“But this stuff is not tree-hugging stuff, it’s a practical focus around creating skills, jobs and investment."
Cllr Kennedy added: “It would probably be one of the biggest construction projects that has ever taken place in Liverpool because you have to have the infrastructure in place to supply the power.”
The council has also agreed to sign up to the EU ‘covenant of Mayors’ which will commit the council to cutting its carbon emissions by 20%.
Cllr Moore said: “It is the role of the council to be proactive on the green and climate change agendas, but it has to result in skills, jobs, investment in supply chain and maintenance.
The plans are also being worked on by the Primary Care Trust and the University of Liverpool.
Maresa Molloy, head of Policy and Information at the Chamber of Commerce, said: “A post has been created at Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to investigate the city’s readiness to bid for theŠEuropean Green Capital award.
“It is good to know that this has full political support across the board. In terms of other partners we are also working closely with Liverpool PCT on how this supports the Decade of Health and Wellbeing goals for the city to be more Equal, Well and Green and with the University of Liverpool and Liverpool Vision.
“We hope that our investigations over the next few months will help pull together even more support from all of the organisations that need to be involved.
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