Cash for energy efficiency measures at Whitstable pool

Whitstable Swimming Pool is set for major improvements to its energy efficiency following an injection of more than £85,000 in government and Sport England cash.

Canterbury City Council has successfully bid for the money from the Swimming Pool Support Fund, a national scheme worth £60 million in total.

Most of the funding, around £73,000, will be spent on installing 118 new solar panels on the south facing pitched elevations of the roof of the swimming pool in Tower Parade.

It is estimated these will generate 52,525 kWh per year initially, which equates to more than 10,000 kg CO2 saved per year.

And the remaining £12,000 will pay for five new submeters, a type of smart meter that identifies where energy efficiency performance is not as strong as it could be.

Although the pool has some basic feature submeters already, a recent survey showed advanced metering can save thousands of pounds and kilos of CO2.

The new submeters will be able to control the pool water and air temperature, the shower temperature, the gym and studios, with the ability to adjust the temperatures on countless occasions during the day.

Cabinet member for climate change, Cllr Mel Dawkins, pictured above outside the swimming pool, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured this new money and I congratulate the council officers on submitting a really strong funding bid.

“It’s well known that swimming pools are highly energy intensive to operate, but the new solar panels will help to reduce the energy used to run much of the pool plant, such as the filtration system and the pool pumps.

“And the submeters will make the whole operation much more energy efficient, resulting in less water, electricity and gas all being used.”

Cabinet member for leisure, Cllr Connie Nolan, said: “We are in the middle of a great run of investments in our swimming and leisure facilities, which is fantastic for local people.

“Late last year we opened the expanded facilities in Whitstable, and hot on the heels of that comes this money. Centre users will really notice the difference these projects will make to their overall experience.

“And work is continuing on the huge, £8 million refurbishment at Kingsmead Leisure Centre, which is going to transform the facilities used by thousands of people each week.”

Published: 25 March 2024