Walsall leisure centre to harness solar power thanks to £500k project
Work to install 860 solar panels at Oak Park Active Living Centre is underway.
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Funding of £503,974 received through Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund, alongside a commitment of £40,000 from Walsall Council, has been used to deliver the project, which will see site's annual carbon footprint reduced by an estimated 61.32 tonnes of CO2.
The installation of these solar panels will reduce carbon emissions while increasing the sustainability of the centre.
Work at the centre is expected to be completed by April, with panels already installed on the roof of the pool. Those who make use of the centre's facilities are advised that operations are unaffected by this work.
Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: “As a council, we are committed to a Net Zero carbon emissions target of 2041.
“This work will reduce the operational costs of the facility, showcasing the economic opportunities which moving to Net Zero can provide."
Oak Park Active Living Centre offers a wide range of activities and facilities. This includes a 100-station gym, 8 lane 25 metre pool, floodlit 3G football pitch and sauna and steam room.
Funding for the project is part of Phase II of the Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF), which has seen £60.5 million split between 325 pools from more than 260 local authorities.
The grants, which range in size from £3,000 to nearly £1m, have funded projects such as solar panel installation, pool covers, LED lighting and improved insulation.
Lisa Dodd Mayne, Executive Director of Place for Sport England: “Swimming pools and leisure centres are key community resources and are vital in helping people to be physically active, but we know many have faced a real and significant threat to their survival with increasing costs.
“We are really pleased to continue supporting facilities like Oak Park. Through the interventions delivered as part of the Swimming Pool Support Fund, our aim is to help them remain available for future generations and enable more people to benefit from the mental and physical benefits of sport and physical activity which in turn ensures people have a better quality of life through improved health and wellbeing.”
For more details about leisure facilities in Walsall visit go.walsall.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure
