Pools to be made better for environment

Two swimming pools have been awarded £270,000 to make them better for the environment.

Hutton Moor Leisure Centre and Portishead Open Air Pool have both received funding for new power systems that will significantly decrease their carbon outputs.

North Somerset Council has successfully secured funding to install electric solar (PV) systems – which convert light directly into electricity – at two local pools.

As a result, it is estimated that the site will save 28.17 tonnes of carbon per year at one site.

To try and minimise disruption to users, this work is set to take place alongside other scheduled improvement projects at Hutton Moor.

The pool will remain open while the work takes place, and it’s hoped that the project will be completed within a year.

The council was also awarded more than £140,000 for works at Portishead Open Air Pool.

As well as installing a PV system, they will also add solar thermal power to the site, which will use solar power to heat the water.

It is hoped that the pool can remain open while these works are carried out.

Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said: “At Hutton Moor Leisure Centre alone, we’re projected to save more than 28 tonnes of carbon a year.

"This will help in our goal to become a carbon neutral council by 2030.”

These grants come from the Swimming Pool Support Fund, which is administered by Sport England.

Another £20m has been provided by Sport England via the National Lottery, and more than £40m has been provided by the government as part of their commitment to support the long-term sustainability of public leisure.

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