A huge investment in solar panels for Langley Leisure Centre will bring about annual energy savings and a reduction in carbon emissions.
All local authorities in England who operate public swimming pools were eligible to apply for funding from a £60m Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF). The key objectives of the SPSF are to reduce energy consumption, prevent facility closures, and lower carbon output.
The council and Everyone Active submitted two bids for solar panels at The Centre and Langley Leisure Centre. There was a huge demand on the funding, so only one Slough project was successful.
A total of £295,447 was awarded, which covered the cost of installing solar panels (photovoltaics) at Langley Leisure Centre, which is designed to save 28 tonnes of carbon per year.
Work on site is now complete. Ameresco, an energy service company, installed 109kW solar panels, which will lead to a minimum of 109,103 kWh annual energy savings (equivalent to more than 40 homes) and annual energy cost savings of more than £27,000 each year.
Luke Routhorn, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “It is great news that these investments will reduce the centre’s carbon footprint going forward. Everyone Active is proud to work alongside Slough Borough Council, as part of our Net Zero Strategy, to help achieve our company’s Net Zero ambitions."
Swimming participation figures in Slough are low when compared to the national average, but the swimming pools at The Centre and Langley Leisure Centre are used by one swimming club and 23 schools, with 1,130 school pupils using the pools each week.
By bidding for the funding, the council’s aims were to:
- reduce on-site consumption of energy through the installation of a PV (photovoltaics) scheme on the roof,
- reduce the cost of energy through operating a leisure centre with a swimming pool,
- enable the swimming pools to remain open and operational,
- incentivise increase in patronage of swimming pool, as an essential life skill.
Councillor Ejaz Ahmed, lead member for community cohesion, leisure and sport, said: “This was a very competitive environment to bid for funding, but I’m delighted we were successful and have been able to implement this energy-saving project at Langley Leisure Centre.
“There is increasing demand for swimming lessons, school use and general family swim, but the current levels of demand would not be accommodated if the swimming pool opening hours were reduced to mitigate utility costs. The installation of the solar panels will help offset this concern.
“Learning to swim is an essential life skill and having a local swimming pool means you can find lessons and get some practice in. It’s never too early, and never too late, to learn how to swim.
“Swimming in an organised setting is much safer than risking a dip in a river with changing currents, debris and the risk of cold-water shock.
“It’s good for fitness, fun and it’s a social activity to do with friends and family. Pop into Langley Leisure Centre or The Centre to see the facilities available and give swimming a try.”
In 2022/23, Langley Leisure Centre had 136,879 swimming visits, while The Centre had 164,692.
Total usage, including school and club visits, from April 2023 to March 24 was 156,816 visits for Langley and 235,702 visits for The Centre.