THE Lib Dem/Conservative coalition running Warrington Borough Council has explained the rationale behind its controversial plan for a £10 million “solar farm”.
Labour criticism of the proposal is wide of the mark and shows a lack of understanding about climate change issues, they say.
Last week, the Labour group on the council urged the controlling group to think again about the solar farm scheme.
They said it was not the time for Warrington to be thinking of borrowing £10 million for a solar farm when so many local pensioners were suffering from fuel poverty because of rising prices and VAT.
But Cllr Mike Biggin, (pictured) the council’s executive member for climate change, said: “This council leads the way with innovative schemes to reduce energy use. This project was listed in our budget proposals but will only go ahead when there is a sound business case for the investment.
“If we decide to borrow the money in the future, it would not be at the expense of any other project and would not divert money from smaller scale schemes. The project is on hold at present because the government is concerned that large scale solar farms could soak up the money intended to help homes, communities and small businesses generate their own electricity.”
Cllr Biggin said the council was fully supportive of a plan by Golden Gates Housing Trust to fit solar panels on individual properties to benefit residents by reducing their energy bills. They were also proposing to put solar photovoltaic panels on the flagship Orford Park sports village scheme.
“If the solar farm project gets the green light in the future by demonstrating clear financial viability there would be a number of benefits to the community. Firstly there would be a substantial income generated for the council tax payer from the ‘clean energy cash back’ or ‘feed-in tariffs’ from the government.
“We would invest this in affordable housing and provide between 80 and 160 affordable homes for local people. This would attract additional funding for the council from the government’s ‘New Homes Bonus’.”
Council leader Ian Marks added: “One of the first decisions we made after coming to power in 2006 was to sign the so-called Nottingham Declaration. This showed our intent to take climate change seriously and was something the previous Labour administration had failed to do. In Climate Change Week we are showing firm leadership because we believe that action by local authorities is critical to achieving the country’s carbon reduction goals.”
6 Comments
Since the feed-in tarrifs which would be this scheme’s only way of ever covering it’s costs are set to be cut by 70% for this type of larger scale, commercial installation then it’s dead in the water and will thankfully remain there.
Just thank God that WBC’s over-inflated desire for shiny flagship projects coupled with it’s over-blown sense of it’s own importance didn’t lead to them saddling us with this debt before the feed-in tarrif cuts were announced!
Not only will the feed in tarrifs be cut but large scale projects such as that proposed by WBC would not be eligable for the rewards of the feed in tarrifs. Thuis the project will be a complete white elephant.
Can the Executive Member for Climate Change guarantee good weather in Climate Change Week cos I am thinking of going away?
They are all a bunch of egotistical prats…………..always looking for something they can tag their names to and tell their mates down the golf club
I agree with all those above. Roll on the May elections and Labour back in
Where do these people live? Councillor Biggin certainly does not live not in my world! What a total waste of money and roll on 5th May 2011 when we can get a change in the administration at the Town Hall and get this project ditched. It seems OUR council are always looking for way to further their own ego and do not take the slightest bit of notice to the residents they are elected to SERVE.