Newark and Sherwood District Council is installing solar photovoltaic panels at Newark Sports and Fitness Centre will be followed by the Dukeries Leisure Centre, the Beacon Business Innovation Centre and the Green Flag Award-winning parks of Sconce and Devon and Vicar Water in addition to those on the District Council’s main office at Castle House

Five buildings in Newark are to be fitted with solar panels over the next five months.

Newark and Sherwood District Council is installing solar photovoltaic panels as part of its goal to achieve its carbon net zero target.

The installation at Newark Sports and Fitness Centre will be followed by the Dukeries Leisure Centre, the Beacon Business Innovation Centre and the Green Flag Award-winning parks of Sconce and Devon and Vicar Water.

These are in addition to the solar panels already on the District Council’s main office, Castle House.

The 436 panels to be installed at Newark Sports and Fitness Centre are expected to generate in excess of 20% of the site’s total energy consumption.

Councillor Keith Melton, portfolio holder for climate change at the District Council, said: “The installation of these PV panels is going to allow us to make massive strides towards achieving our carbon neutral goals. Improving energy efficiency plays an important role in reducing our carbon footprint and larger-scale investments like this are vital to pushing that forward.

“Along with the other work we are committed to and the targets we are already exceeding, I can’t wait to see what we can achieve in our efforts to create a greener and more sustainable future for our district.”

These installations are part of a number of new initiatives being implemented to reduce carbon emissions.

Other work includes planting a record number of trees, with a target of 10,000 already surpassed as 18,000 have been planted by the Council so far in 2023.

It is also deploying electric vehicles and carbon neutral forms of transport to its fleet. Plans to decarbonise council owned buildings were also recently approved, and work to decarbonise social housing already moving forward.

Andy Freeman, chairman for Active4Today said: “We are excited about the opportunities for solar technology to reduce energy costs and improve sustainability for customers. “The clean energy system will not only reduce leisure centre’s energy bills but provide clean electricity for members.”