Braintree District Council has appointed contractor Ren Energy to deliver an exciting project, boosting sustainable energy at Witham Leisure Centre.
Thanks to a grant from the Sport England Swimming Pools Support Capital Fund, two solar canopies will be erected in the leisure centre’s car park and a large solar array will be installed on the roof, to complement a small existing array. These will help to power the centre’s activities, lowering carbon emissions and providing a clean, sustainable source of energy for years to come. It will also support Braintree District Council’s climate strategy targets.
The new panels combined will cover an area of just under 2000m² and the energy produced at peak performance will reach 406 kilowatts per hour.
The solar canopies will be secured using an innovative ground screw anchor method, avoiding the need for traditional foundations such as concrete. This makes the process quicker, less disruptive for centre users and more environmentally friendly.
Some car parking spaces will be out of use while the works take place, and users will be directed to temporary parking at nearby Witham Sport Ground, which is a two-minute walk from the centre. Disabled bays will not be affected and there will be no ultimate loss of car parking space for leisure centre users.
Councillor Diana Garrod, Lead Member for Climate Change and Sustainability and Deputy to the Cabinet Member for Transformation, the Environment & Customer Services, said: “It is fantastic to see these works getting under way. With this grant funding, Braintree District Council is investing in its residents’ futures, embracing green technology in a way that is unobtrusive and efficient. I look forward to seeing the results.”