New photovoltaic solar panels have recently been installed on the roof of Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre in Leamington Spa, providing clean energy to power the building's swimming facilities.

A grant of £234,000 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, last year for the installation of the panels, which are predicted to save 28.3 tonnes of carbon emissions and provide an energy bill saving of around £31,931 per year.

The government's Swimming Pool Support Fund provides 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 second round of funding won by the Council from the fund. 

The first was £165,641, awarded under phase one towards increased energy costs.

New photovoltaic solar panels have recently been installed on the roof of Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre (images supplied)

Leisure Energy has acted as Principal Contractor and Designer on the installation and assisted with the funding application. 

Portfolio Holder for Decarbonisation, Cllr Lowell Williams, explained that the Council's Corporate Strategy prioritises both low-cost and low-carbon energy, with the decarbonisation of our public buildings high on that agenda.

He said: "I'm delighted to see that the installation has now been completed, and that our public swimming facilities at Newbold Comyn are operated with the help of clean energy, reducing both emissions and energy bills." 

Group Sustainability Manager for Everyone Active, Peggy Lee, said: "It is great news to have more onsite 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 net zero ambitions, which is the most important part of our own net zero strategy." 

Chairman at Leisure Energy, Graham Clarkson, stated Leisure Energy is proud to have worked with the Council and Everyone Active on the project and to have assisted with their decarbonisation goals. 

He explained that these goals will "help ensure the longevity of the centre for future generations."

Graham Clarkson, Chairman at Leisure Energy; Tim Hornsby, Building Climate and Energy Manager WDC; Cllr Lowell Williams, Portfolio Holder for Decarbonisation WDC; Ann Hill, Sports & Leisure Contract Manager WDC; Alex Fuoco-Lang, General Manager at Everyone Active; Gary Titford, Centre Manager; Cllr Jim Sinnott, Portfolio Holder for Safer, Active and Healthier Communities WDC (images supplied)