Lib Dems on Torbay Council Win Funding to Reduce Torbay Leisure Centre Carbon Emissions by 60%

Lib Dem and Independent run Torbay Council has secured £1.9m in grant funding via the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) for Torbay Leisure Centre to upgrade the heating plant, improve energy efficiency, and reduce the centre's carbon emissions by 60%.

This project will play a major part in accelerating progress towards Torbay Council's ambitions of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Torbay Leisure Centre is managed by Parkwood Leisure who have supported the grant application, and will oversee the delivery of the project.

Central to the proposed project will be the replacement of the existing gas boiler system at Torbay Leisure Centre with an air source heat pump. Air source heat pumps are identified as the most favourable decarbonisation heat technology in the market at present, however they are comparatively expensive to run.

In order to mitigate against the increased running costs, the proposal also includes the installation of secondary technologies within the Leisure Centre, to either generate renewable electricity or improve the efficiency of other plant operations.

Lee Howgate, Lib Dem Councillor for Goodrington with Roselands on Torbay Council, said:

"I am delighted that Lib Dem work on Torbay Council is tackling climate change and making our area greener. Improving the energy efficiency of Torbay Leisure Centre will help us meet our ambition of making Torbay carbon neutral by 2030."

Christine Carter, Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services on Torbay Council, said:

"Climate change is an issue that connects everyone on the planet from world leaders to every local resident. It is an issue of our own making and unless tackled it will have serious and long-lasting effect on the quality of lives of our children and grandchildren. Lib Dems in Torbay and across Devon are making our area greener, cleaner, and a better place to live."