Thame Leisure Centre set to feel the benefit of solar energy
Published on 20 May 2024
Soon swimmers in Thame will be feeling the warmth of the sun – while being indoors, after South Oxfordshire District Council was successful in its bid for funding towards hundreds of solar panels for Thame Leisure Centre.
It was recently announced that the Swimming Pool Support Fund – which invests National Lottery and government money each year – has awarded just over £160,000 towards the installation of around 300 solar panels at the Thame site.
The solar panels will cover all available roof space at the centre including the gym, the sports hall and the swimming pool itself. This project follows other work carried out at the site to improve energy efficiency including the installation of LED lighting.
It is anticipated the work to install the solar panels should be completed by spring 2025 with minimum disruption to users.
Councillor Georgina Heritage, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “This is great news for Thame and the residents who use the centre. It comes straight after another recent award of £1.4 million of government funding for similar renewable energy work for Didcot Wave and Park Sports Centre in Wheatley. All of these actions combine to significantly reduce the council’s energy bills and its carbon footprint.”
Councillor David Rouane, South Oxfordshire District Council Leader, said, “This latest investment in renewable energy shows the council’s commitment to reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and determination to bring down its energy bills. We can offer residents support to take similar action – on a smaller scale – to reduce their energy bills and their impact on the planet too.”
Information on energy saving ideas is here and information on energy saving grants is here.
Notes to editors
More information on the award is here. You can find out more about the Swimming Pool Support Fund on the Sport England website.
Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport. It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to feel able to engage in sport and physical activity. That’s why a lot of its work is specifically focused on helping people who do no, or very little, physical activity and groups who are typically less active – like women, disabled people and people on lower incomes.
*The Value of Swimming Report by Swim England, September 2023.
