Newbury Cricket Club and Loose Ends celebrate greener future after £10k council boost
The installation of solar panels has been completed over two days at the recently refurbished Newbury Cricket Club, in Northcroft Lane.
The club houses Loose Ends, a local charity providing hot meals and grocery parcels for vulnerable people.
The change comes after a greener alternative was sought to meet the energy requirements of the charity using the building.
Newbury Town Council contributed £10,000 towards the cost with a Climate Change Grant as part of its goal to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Loose Ends shares the space with Northcroft Kitchen and currently welcomes up to 125 visitors a week.
"It's a very nice atmosphere here," said trustee, Pat Burke. "It's nice for the children to have a meal that mum hasn't had to cook or budget for."
Mrs Burke also explained how the number of people the charity supports has returned to a more stable level since the pandemic.
The solar panels on the south-facing roof will generate enough electricity to power and heat the building all year round.
The projected energy generated will be 14.5kWh per year – the equivalent of 6.8 tonnes of CO2 – saving both organisations significant energy costs moving forwards.
Additional support came from two Member's Bids totalling £6,000, secured by town and district councillors Andy Moore and Martha Vickers.
The council and the club have agreed to award the council carbon-saving credits based on solar power generated by the club's investment.
The total carbon saving based on this project is estimated at 9,483kg of CO2 per year, of which 5,926kg CO2 will be credited towards the council.
"This is a really exciting moment for all of us and a fantastic example of what can be achieved through effective partnership working," explained town council leader Martin Colston.
"We are working with Loose Ends to provide focused support for the vulnerable in our community.
"The refurbished cricket club furthers our aims to encourage and facilitate residents' participation in social, recreational and sporting activities.
Councillor Chris Foster, who chairs the council's Climate Emergency Working Group, added: "This great project will not only save money for Loose Ends and the cricket club, but it will also help the environment and the communities of Newbury."
