PECT is ready to bring fresh new opportunities to Peterborough. With a new Chief Executive in post, Sarah Fowler, Peterborough Environment City Trust has developed its vision for Peterborough and is developing a plan of action to help achieve this.

Ten years ago Peterborough was at the forefront of the Environment City initiative, when it was designated as one of four UK Environment Cities. Sarah Fowler now wants to ensure that Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) helps Peterborough remain at the forefront and set the example for other cities.

"I want to work with our partners to seek out opportunities to improve the quality of life of the people and wildlife of the city. I want the city to be a recognised a centre of environmental excellence. I want the people of Peterborough to be proud of their city and to feel empowered to act so their children and grandchildren have a greener future" said Sarah Fowler. "For example, within ten years I want PECT to have played a part in ensuring all residents have safe and easy access, within 300 metres, to a thriving network of green public open space. This would give our children somewhere to play outdoors, would help us get closer to nature, whether walking the dog or playing sport, and it would become a vital business marketing tool because people want to live, work and shop in a green environment."

Sarah added, "Peterborough should be proud of its achievements. We have over 100 wildlife sites, some of international importance, on our doorstep. We have a good track record on environmental management, for example Peterborough has just been awarded several millions of pounds from central Government to keep the city moving and act as a Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town. Over 250 business in Peterborough work in the environmental sector, employing over 4,500 people. Our health agenda recognises the value of getting people out of doctor’s waiting rooms and onto the footpaths and cycle routes of the city. PECT is ready to work with our partners to put Peterborough at the forefront of delivering sustainable communities."

PECT is now well placed to help realise this ambition. Sarah Fowler joined the organisation in January 2004 from English Nature’s headquarters. Her involvement in promoting national policies will set her in good stead for ensuring Peterborough is recognised as the place to be in the Eastern region. The recent re-branding of PECT, undertaken free of charge by a local graphic design agency, and new PECT web-site, launched today, will enable PECT communicate our vision for Peterborough.

PECT also carries out its own range of innovative projects to lead by example:

• Developing and bringing to schools a nationally recognised environmental education initiative – Greener Futures.
• Operating a leading Energy Efficiency Advice Centre in Westgate.

• Offering over 100 businesses an award winning environmental support package – the Business and Environment Management Scheme.
• Helping communities take positive action for their local area of open space, to turn them from uninspiring "grot spots" into "green oases".
• Running a scheme to encourage people out of the Doctors’ waiting rooms and onto the cycle routes of the city
• Implementing a pool bicycle scheme for staff to use to commute around the city to meetings

On top of this PECT has worked with our partners to bring Peterborough another jam-packed programme of green events during the Peterborough Festival including mystery biodiversity boat, bus and bicycle trips and a makeover of Stanley Rec.

1. Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) is a charity that was set up following Peterborough’s designation as a UK Environment City. PECT carries out research and implements practical projects to protect and improve the environment. PECT works with over 200 partners representing business, local authorities voluntary and environment groups.
2. PECT responded to the Greater Peterborough Partnership’s call for a "Vision for Peterborough". PECT has a vision of Peterborough at the forefront in the UK of delivering both regeneration and growth in an environmentally sustainable way. For the growth to deliver a high quality of life for both the people and wildlife of Peterborough, so that in ten years time:

• the people of Peterborough are proud of, and feel ownership of, the Environment City status and feel empowered and have the ability to take responsibility for the future;
• the City is rich in biodiversity and cultural diversity and has a thriving economy based on environmental principles;
• the City is a nationally recognised centre of excellence in environmental education;
• all residents have safe and easy access, within 300 metres, to a thriving network of safe, green, public open space;
• the City is regarded as a national role model in terms of usage of sustainable transport, with high levels of walking and cycling in a healthy and active city;
• all new buildings and many of the existing buildings are water and energy efficient, with all having access to recycling facilities;
• there is a thriving cluster of environmental technology and service industries.