Leisure centre solar panels 'to cut energy bills'

1 hour ago

Samantha WhelanYorkshire

News image — Thirsk and Sowerby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub has had 149 solar panels added to its roof

North Yorkshire Council An aerial view of Thirsk and Sowerby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub, with solar panels installed on its roof. It's a large building with a mix of standard and flat roofing. There's a car park to the right of it, and a large expanse of grass around it with some trees. In the background there are residential streets, stretching off to trees and hills in the horizon. The sky is blue and cloudy. — Thirsk and Sowerby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub has had 149 solar panels added to its roof

More than 800 solar panels installed at three North Yorkshire leisure facilities could cut nearly 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and save more than £2m in electricity charges over the next 25 years, a council has said.

The panels have been placed on the roofs of facilities in Ripon, Thirsk and Whitby.

According to North Yorkshire Council, which owns the sites, the expected savings, which equate to about £80,000 a year, could be invested in other key services.

Council leader Carl Les said: "It is important that we continue to make this county a more environmentally friendly place to live, work and visit."

Les said: "One way of achieving that is by improving the efficiency of our public buildings and homes by embracing green technology and renewable energy, and we are carrying out significant work in this area.

"The installation of nearly 1,000 solar panels at these sites will help us generate energy more cheaply, reduce the amount we pay on our bills, and allow these savings to be invested in other areas of need across North Yorkshire."

A total of 265 solar panels have been installed at The Jack Laugher Centre in Ripon, and a further 149 at Thirsk and Sowerby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub - both run by Active North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Council An aerial view of the Jack Laugher Centre in Ripon, with solar panels on its roof. It has a slanted roof section in front of a flat one, and a car park around it on two sides. There's a children's play area, and to the right there are several buildings and a large expanse of green grass and trees. To the left of the building there's a large road, and behind it are industrial buildings and busy car parking. — The Jack Laugher Centre in Ripon has had a total of 265 solar panels installed on its roof

More than 400 panels have also been added at Whitby Leisure Centre, which is currently operated by Everyone Active but is set to become part of Active North Yorkshire in 2027.

Funding was allocated for panels to be installed on 16 community buildings across the region by the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, following a £1m grant by Great British Energy.

Skaith said: "Lowering bills and improving our environment means that 16 of our region's community buildings, such as these facilities in Ripon, Thirsk and Whitby, will spend less on energy and more on what matters – supporting people."

"Through the Mayoral Renewables Fund, we are moving in the right direction, towards becoming the first region in England to reach carbon negative by 2040."

Last November, North Yorkshire Council approved a £36m to be spent on four sites in Selby, Skipton, Pickering and Whitby as part of a new leisure investment strategy.

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