Plans to become carbon neutral by 2030 have taken a giant leap for Pendle Borough Council due to a £1.7 million Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant.
The council bid for the funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to decarbonise West Craven Sports Centre in Barnoldswick and Pendle Wavelengths in Nelson.
Existing gas fired boilers which supply heating and hot water will be replaced with air source heat pumps and windows will also be upgraded.
The council has provided an additional £900,000 bringing the total investment in the two leisure centres to £2.6 million.
Asjad Mahmood, council leader said: “This is absolutely fantastic news.
“With the rising cost of running our leisure centres it’s so important that we do all we can to make them more financially viable and energy efficient.
“This investment will make sure that local people can access good quality, sustainable leisure facilities.”
Simon Gwynne, chief executive of Pendle Leisure Trust which runs the leisure services on behalf of the council, added: “I am super proud of the partnership between the leisure trust and council.
“This funding will support the long-term sustainability of these vital buildings and make a positive impact on the borough’s carbon footprint.
“Further support from Pendle Borough Council will see improvement work at Pendle Leisure Centre in Colne including windows, solar panels and boilers.”
In 2019, Pendle Borough Council declared a climate emergency and formed a Climate Emergency Working Group to tackle climate change locally.
Councillor Sarah Cockburn-Price, chair of the Climate Emergency Working Group, added: “We are delighted that we can achieve one of our priorities which is to reduce carbon emissions from two of our swimming pools – previously the council’s biggest polluters. Many thanks to the officers who worked so hard on this successful bid.”
Salix runs the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
