Leisure centre on the way to becoming eco-friendly

WORK is progressing on installing new technology to reduce carbon emissions at Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has secured a grant of £1,910,000 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and is supplementing this from council funds to meet the costs of the project.

The leisure centre’s gas boilers are being replaced with air source heat pumps and 246 solar panels have been installed on the roof to enhance the building’s energy efficiency and reduce its impact on the environment. The changes should save about 293 tonnes of CO2 every year.

Councillor Nigel Yates, cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: “The council has a target of reaching net zero carbon in its services and internal operations by 2030 and it’s schemes like this one that will help us achieve that target.

“I’m delighted with the progress being made in Biddulph and look forward to seeing the impact it will have in significantly reducing carbon emissions from this site.”

A milestone for the project has been reached with the delivery of the packaged plant room which includes the air source heat pumps.

The district council is investing in leisure centres in the Moorlands as part of a wider leisure transformation plan which aims to improve the facilities while reducing their impact on the environment.

The council’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism, Councillor Matt Swindlehurst, said: “Improving the quality and sustainability of our leisure centres is at the heart of our leisure transformation plans and we’ve made a great start at Biddulph with this project, alongside live plans we are progressing for improvements to Brough Park Leisure Centre as part of our Levelling Up programme.

“I look forward to sharing more details about our exciting plans for the future of our leisure centres in due course.”