Green focus of town hailed after TV show
APOLITICIAN has hailed the number of solar panels on the roofs in a “working class neighbourhood” during a scene in the BBC primetime drama Time starring Stephen Graham and Sean Bean as she noted the show was filmed “around Runcorn”.
Sian Berry, Green Party leader and London Assembly member, asked Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, if he had also been struck by the “extraordinary shot” in the show which showed an aerial view of rooftops, many of which were fitted with solar panels.
She expressed disappointment that London did not share this level of coverage.
Solar panels convert sunlight into energy and as such do not emit carbon emissions, which are driving the global climate crisis.
The BBC three-part drama Time was filmed in the Liverpool City Region and one of six high-end TV productions supported by £1.78m from Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s City Region Production Fund.
The gritty Jimmy McGovern prison miniseries tells the story of disgraced teacher Mark Cobden, who has been sent down following a fatal drink drive collision when he was behind the wheel.
Some Halton residents may well have spotted some familiar locations, including a scene featuring tormented prison guard Eric McNally, portrayed by famous Liverpool actor Stephen Graham, driving his car on an access road between the A553 Queensway and the Desoto Road roundabout in Widnes.
In another scene Cobden, played by Sean Bean of Sharpe and Game of Thrones fame, backs down from running an errand for a criminal while on day release on Oakland Street in West Bank, Widnes with the Silver Jubilee Bridge and general view towards Runcorn in the background.
The Weekly News has found an aerial shot in Time, episode two, that fits the description of the one provided by Sian Berry, featuring a neighbourhood with extensive solar panel roof coverage, and the location is in fact a short distance outside Halton, and on Critchley Road in Speke.
During her question to Mr Khan, Ms Berry said: “I wonder if, like me, you were struck by an extraordinary shot in the recent BBC prison drama Time.
“This was shot around Runcorn in the North West, a drone shot from high up in a working-class area with just huge numbers of solar panels on all the roofs. I cannot think of anywhere that is anything like that in London.
“Statistics show that we are the lowest region for solar power installations.”
As part of his reply, Mr Khan said: “The passion with which she talks about this is quite inspiring.
“I am more than happy to organise a meeting with the relevant team to discuss what we can do to encourage the take-up of more solar energy.
“It is one of the things we need to do to get more renewables being used in London.”