Solar panels to power Ivybridge Leisure Centre in green energy drive

Ivybridge Leisure Centre is set to benefit from new solar panel installations as part of South Hams District Council’s latest push to cut carbon emissions and reduce running costs.

The council has confirmed that three of its leisure centres in Ivybridge, Dartmouth and Totnes will be fitted with rooftop panels, aimed at slashing energy bills and improving the long-term sustainability of the facilities.

The move forms part of the council’s commitment to tackling climate change and lowering its own carbon footprint. 

The council confirmed that leisure centres are among the their highest energy consumers.

Once installed, the solar panels are expected to save around 90 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year across the three sites. 

The councils says that that is the equivalent of more than 50 return flights from London to New York.

Cllr Julian Brazil, South Hams' lead member for Community Services, Operations and Leisure, said: “It’s fantastic to see this project moving forward; it’s an ambition we’ve held for the centres for a long time, and so I’m delighted to see it get to this point.”

He added: “The installation of the panels will also lower the effects of rising costs for all three centres, which are a threat to many facilities like ours. The panels should help to keep membership and entry prices as low as possible for users.”

“The environmental benefits from installing the panels are huge; the panels will have a huge beneficial impact on reducing the Council’s carbon emissions, helping us strive towards our own ambitions of fighting climate change where we can.”

The upgrades are being delivered in partnership with Fusion Lifestyle, which operates the centres on behalf of the council.

Anthony Cawley, CEO of Fusion Lifestyle, said: “We are really excited about the upgrades at the centres in Ivybridge, Dartmouth and Totnes. The new solar panels will make all three centres more environmentally friendly, helping keep costs down for centre users and future proof them for generations to come.”