Over the summer, contractors worked to install solar panels on the roof of the sports hall at the Leisure Centre, which began generating energy by the end of September.

A grant of £292,600 from phase two of the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund was awarded to the Council for the leisure centre - which is operated by Everyone Active – earlier this year for the installation of the panels, which are predicted to save 14 tonnes of carbon emissions and provide an energy bill saving of around £14,000 per year.

Once all the panels have been installed, the total predicted carbon savings are 21 tonnes per year, with an annual energy bill saving of £21,000 per year.

The government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund provided a total of £60m to local authorities in England who provide public swimming leisure facilities and are feeling the pressure of increasing costs.

This is the latest round of funding won by the Council from the fund; £165,641 was awarded under phase one towards increased energy costs, and £234,000 was awarded under phase two for Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre.

Following approval of further funding to carry out essential works to the remaining roof space, it is anticipated that further panels will be installed on the Leisure Centre to provide increased savings.

Councillor Lowell Williams, Portfolio Holder for Decarbonisation, said:

“The Council’s Corporate Strategy has low cost, low carbon energy as one of its top priorities, with the decarbonisation of our public buildings high on that agenda.

“I’m delighted to see the progress we’re making in decarbonising our leisure centres, which are high energy users and hugely benefit from regenerative energy.”

Alex Fuoco-Lang, Contract Manager at Everyone Active, said:

“It is great news to have more on-site renewable energy generation, which will further reduce the centre’s carbon footprint going forward. Everyone Active is proud to work alongside the Council in meeting their low carbon ambitions, which is the most important part of our own net zero strategy.”