Energy efficiencies to be made at Uckfield Leisure Centre

The funding was applied for by Wealden District Council in partnership with East Sussex County Council and its leisure operator, Freedom Leisure.

This phase of support sees £224,445 of government funding being made available to improve the medium to long-term energy efficiency of Uckfield Leisure Centre’s swimming pool.

Work has begun on the new PV solar system that will offset grid electricity usage to make the centre more energy efficient and help the council meet its commitment to being carbon net zero by 2044 or sooner.

This is the second time that the council has been successful in allocation of funding to improve the energy efficiency of leisure centres in the district.

£71,237 of SPSF funding was previously secured by Wealden District Council to deliver several interventions at Hailsham Leisure Centre, including the installation of a PV solar system -This is already generating over 20% of the centre’s electricity, and pool covers to reduce the heat loss from the pool, reducing gas consumption and lowering associated costs for heating the pool.

Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management, said, “The funding we have received is vital to make environmental changes to our public facilities with swimming pools. We have different interventions that if put in place, will enable our public facilities to become more energy efficient, perform at their best and excel us to becoming a step closer to becoming net zero by 2044 or sooner. This shows the council’s continued commitment to securing a long-term future for Uckfield leisure Pool along with the other sporting facilities provided on site”

The council has applied for SPSF funding for Crowborough Leisure Centre, but this has been unsuccessful.

 

Note for editors:

Further details on Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund can be found at: https://www.sportengland.org/guidance-and-support/facilities-and-planning/swimming-pool-support-fund