Green Weobley villagers put energy into panels

2:00pm Wednesday 19th November 2008

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A GREEN-thinking community is beaming with delight after installing solar panels on its village hall.

Locals have spent £91,000 on making Weobley Village Hall the greenest in the county.

More than a dozen panels were installed last week, making it the first hall in Herefordshire to run on solar power.

The 15 panels are capable of producing £500 of electricity every year and the national grid will buy excess power.

Roof insulation, a new boiler and removable chandeliers have also been installed during a three-year modernisation.

The village hall association made the improvements following an audit by the Marches Energy Agency.

Martin Peacock, chairman, said councils from across the Marches had approached them for advice.

“I’ve been told we’re the only hall in Herefordshire to run on solar power and I suspect Worcestershire, too,”

he said.

“I think we’re blazing a trail – we’ve had initial contact from other parishes, including one in Worcestershire.”

Lottery and government funds paid for most of the work, while locals provided £8,000.

The hall also includes a display unit showing the amount of electricity being generated, and the reduction in carbon footprint.