We’ve been awarded funding from Phase 2 of the Government and Sport England’s £60m Swimming Pool Support Fund which will be used to put solar panels and battery storage on Alton Sports Centre.
Working with Everyone Active on the application, we’ve managed to secure significant external funding to help us towards our 2035 net zero carbon target.
The project at Alton Sports Centre is anticipated to deliver an annual saving of 51 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of planting 2,355 trees.
Our research into the council’s carbon footprint shows that our leisure centres are some of the largest contributors and this will be a major step in reducing the impact our centres have on the environment.
Richard Millard, Leader of East Hampshire District Council, said:
“Our swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources and are enormously important in helping people to be physically active.
“The money received from the Sport England Swimming Pool Support fund is fantastic news and will improve the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint at Alton Sports Centre.
“This contributes to the councils 2035 carbon neutral pledge and supports our partners Everyone Active to be more environmentally and financially sustainable.”
Chris West, Everyone Active Contract Manager, said:
“We are delighted the council has been successful in Phase II of the funding and it is great news that this project will further reduce the centre’s carbon footprint.
“As a result of the energy crisis, we as an organisation have seen our energy bills more than double. The implementation of the solar panels at Alton Sports Centre marks a significant step towards reducing the leisure centre’s carbon footprint and simultaneously lowering energy costs. Everyone Active is proud to work alongside the council, as part of our Net Zero Strategy, to help achieve our company’s net zero ambitions.”