COMMUNITY HALL GETS THE WIND IN IT’S SAILS 

A COMMUNITY hall just outside Shrewsbury is leading the way in using renewable energy in the fight against Climate Change. 

In their efforts to do their bit for the environment, Bayston Hill Memorial Hall, assisted by the Marches Energy Agency, have installed a building-mounted wind turbine to contribute to electricity use at the Hall. 

Marches Energy Agency originally identified the Hall as a suitable site for wind power back in 2006. 

“Whilst building-mounted wind turbines are not generally capable of supplying all the power requirements of the average user, they can certainly make a useful contribution,” said the Agency’s Joe Bentley. 

“Whenever the wind is blowing, the Hall will be supplied first with free, ‘clean’ electricity before taking any power from the National Grid. We expect that the turbine will supply around 25% of the Hall’s electricity needs, contributing to a very worthwhile reduction in the Hall’s carbon footprint.” 

Chair of Bayston Hill Memorial Hall Committee Allan Caswell said: “Any initiative which helps us to reduce our carbon footprint is to be commended. We are very pleased to have been chosen as a ‘pilot scheme’ for this project.” 

Councillor John Everall, portfolio holder for sustainability at Shropshire County Council said: “With the threat of climate change and rising fuel prices the visible use of renewable energy on community buildings is a fantastic way to encourage people to think about their own energy use and what it costs.” 

The turbine was installed with the help of Marches Energy Agency (www.mea.org.uk) and it’s Project Carbon team (www.projectcarbon.org). Funding was provided by Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund - managed locally by Shropshire County Council. 

Information on wind turbine technology and the grants available to households and community buildings is available from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk

For further information, please contact:Joe Bentley, at Marches Energy Agency, on 01743 277110 or email joe@mea.org.uk