Council reignites pv project
Ashford Borough Council has announced it is
pressing ahead with rolling out a limited solar panel installation
programme following delays to proposed funding changes.
Plans were put on hold last year after the government proposed to
reduce potential income from the scheme but now a window of
opportunity has opened for the council to embark upon a smaller
scale scheme.
However, following the announcement by the government that the
reduction in the Feed in Tariffs deadline has been moved from the
12th December 2011 to the 3rd March 2012 after a series of legal
challenges the council has decided to press ahead.
The proposals include installing panels on the Civic Centre and at
Trumpet House at Godfrey Walk.
The Council has appointed Kingsnorth Electrical to carry out the
work over the next few weeks with completion expected by the end of
February, hopefully enabling the Council to receive the higher Feed
in Tariff.
The estimate value of the works is £150,000 which will provide the
Council with an anticipated return of between 7% and 14% each year
over the next 25 years.
Cllr Gerry Clarkson, deputy leader of Ashford Borough Council,
said: “Thanks to some swift thinking and hard work from officers
and members we are delighted to take advantage of a delay in the
proposed changes to press ahead with the project.
“Back in November the council reluctantly pulled out of the scheme,
but we said at the time if the situation changed we would look to
resurrect it and we are now delivering on that promise.”
The council will now work with the local contractor to ensure the
programme of installations is carried out in a timely manner.
Planning permission is already in place for the Civic Centre and is
not required for Trumpet House due to planning requirements.
Cllr Jessamy Blanford, portfolio holder for the environment, said:
“This project demonstrates the council’s ambition to be at the
forefront of using sustainable energy and in reducing our carbon
emissions.
“The work officers put in on the previous scheme is paying off by
enabling us to act swiftly this time. Should circumstances allow in
the future the council could look to expand the scheme
further.”
Media release 0014/12
31/01/2012
For more information, please contact our Press Office on 01233
330647 or email
dean.spurrell@ashford.gov.uk
This webpage was updated on
1/31/2012