Village in race to install solar panels

A VILLAGE hall is hoping to beat a Government deadline regarding the installation of solar panels on its roof.

Sadberge Village Hall Association Committee plans to put up 15 solar panels by March 3, when the Government's so-called "feed-in tariff" - or the rate offered for energy per kilowatt - is cut.

At present, it offers 43.3p per kilowatt an hour for anyone producing their own energy. After March 3, that will be cut to 21p.

AlastairMackenzie, amember of Sadberge Climate Change Group, which has push-ed for the panels, said: "If we get the 43.3p tariff, it will take seven to eight years to work back the 9,000 cost of the panels. However, it would take twice asmuch time if the tariffis 21p."

The 9,000 will be taken from the village hall contingency fund.

Mr Mackenzie believes the panels were a good investment for the village.He said: "The village hall is a really important part of our community, especially for the elderly.

By installing the panels, it will lower the heating bill and relieve the financial pressures."

Joan Vickers, chairwoman of SVHAC, said: "Our utility bills are on the rise all the time. This will mean money coming into the village hall for the next 25 years."

Planning permission has been sought from the borough council. If granted, the panels will be installed by Barrier Energy, a company based in Shildon.

SVHAC has also applied for funding from the Banks Community Fund and has a provisional agreement with them for 5,000 to replace the old windows in the cafe section of the hall with double-glazed ones.

The fund was set up by Banks Renewables, which is building six wind turbines on Moorhouse Farm at Barmpton, near Darlington.

The two initiatives, as well as a previous project which installed solar panels on houses in the village, is part of Sadberge Climate Working Group's renewable energy project.

It was formed in 2008 to meet with the parish plan objective to make the village more environmentally responsible.