Hundreds of solar panels have been installed on top of Stafford and Stone Leisure Centres to help cut carbon emissions and lower energy costs.

Freedom Leisure, one of the UK’s leading charitable not-for-profit leisure trusts that manages Stafford Leisure Centre and Stone Leisure Centre on behalf of Stafford Borough Council, is taking the big step towards increased sustainability by installing new solar photovoltaic (PV) panels onto the roofs of these popular facilities.

This investment in renewable energy will help reduce the centre’s reliance on traditional electricity sources, cut carbon emissions, and lower energy costs.

These projects have been a collaboration between Freedom Leisure and Borough Council and testament to their excellent partnership and working relationship. Through this approach, government funding was secured and Freedom Leisure led on the procurement and management of the projects, installing over 650 panels.

Councillor Gillian Pardesi, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Stafford Borough Council, said: “Putting climate change at the heart of everything the council does is one of our top priorities. But aiming to reaching net carbon zero as a council, and community, is something we cannot do on our own and that is why it is important for our partners, as well as other businesses, to do what they can to support us.

“Freedom Leisure understands their responsibility to becoming greener with the facilities and activities they run, and it is great to see money we secured from Sport England and the government has helped introduce solar panels at both our leisure centres in Stafford and Stone.”

Angela Brown, Head of Sustainability and Environmental for Freedom Leisure who attributes a significant portion of the success story to the involvement and commitment of everyone involved said; “This showcases both our, and the council’s, commitment to sustainability and our collective approach to reducing carbon emissions, especially within aquatic facilities, where energy demands are typically high due to the heating and ventilation required to maintain pool environments.

“By focussing on sustainability, we not only reduce carbon emissions but also create long-term operational cost savings, which can be invested into community programmes and facility improvements ensuring that our leisure centres continue to flourish.”

The project is part of a broader effort to make council-run facilities more energy efficient, ensuring they remain sustainable for years to come. It is expected that the panels will generate over 260,000 kWh per year with 56 tonnes of carbon saved per year; equivalent to driving an average car 8 times around the earth’s circumference!

Visitors to the leisure centres can now enjoy their activities knowing the facilities are doing their part to protect the planet.

Press Release No 6190