Isle of Wight pools receive extra funding to boost energy efficiency

The Heights in Sandown has received £43,000 of extra funding

More than £250,000 has been given to three swimming pools to make them more energy efficient.

Pools at Ryde, Sandown and Freshwater on the Isle of Wight will receive the funding from Sport England's Swimming Pool Support Fund.

It will be used to install solar panels, triple glazing, LED lighting and improve insulation.

The £258,000 comes following a successful bid by the Isle of Wight Council.

Lawrence Edmonston, the council's leisure facilities manager, said: "This new funding will help us improve our energy efficiency to be more environmentally and financially sustainable, so they remain available for future generations to enjoy."

Ryde Waterside Pool will receive £128,000 to fund the installation of photo voltaic panels and heat recovery units.

Todd Miller, general manager at Ryde Waterside Pool, said he was "elated" to have received the funding, with the centre "currently struggling" with the monthly cost of its electricity and gas, which Mr Miller said had doubled in cost since September.

"We hope the new more energy efficient heating system for the swimming pool and pool hall, combined with the solar PV will make help to reduce the centre's energy consumption and associated costs to secure the financial sustainability of the centre," he said.

West Wight Sports and Community Centre in Freshwater will receive £86,000 towards upgrading its windows to triple glazing and the installation of photo voltaic panels.

Clare Griffin, manager at West Wight Sports and Community Centre, said: "It's critical for us to be able to keep our costs as low as possible in order to be able to continue to operate our pool. But this grant will also help us to reduce our carbon emissions and our reliance on gas."

Sandown-based pool The Heights plans to use the £43,000 it has received to replace fluorescent lighting with LED lighting and fit shower flow restrictors.

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