COMMUNITY centres, social housing and a historic theatre will have solar panels installed as part of a council plan to reduce its carbon footprint.

The almost £190,000 investment from Adur and Worthing Councils will see six sites across the area fitted with the high-tech systems, which will generate clean energy and reduce running costs for future generations.

The panels will not only provide renewable electricity to the buildings, but also reduce overall energy bills and carbon emissions by reducing the amount of electricity imported from the grid.

Among the locations to benefit are the historic Worthing Assembly Hall, the Eastbrook Manor Community Centre in Fishersgate, the cricket pavilion at Goring Recreation Ground and social housing at Marsh House in Southwick and Shadwells Court in Lancing.

The Councils' Commerce Way depot, which is home to the waste and recycling fleet, will also see panels installed on the roof.

The move supports Adur and Worthing Councils' ambitious SustainableAW agenda which looks to ensure the organisation is carbon neutral by 2030, with a wider area net zero target by 2045.

Councillor Emma Evans, Adur District Council's executive member for the environment, said: "We are making every possible move to ensure we remain one of the leading councils when it comes to tackling climate change.

"This is just the latest project we are undertaking in the ambitious yet attainable goal to achieving a net zero target by 2030."

The investment of nearly £190,000 will be partly funded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, a central government pot to reduce carbon emissions from public sector buildings.

Worthing Borough Council's executive member for digital and environmental services Councillor Edward Crouch said: "We are totally committed to playing our part in reducing our carbon footprint with the ultimate goal of achieving a net zero target by 2030.

"Introducing solar panels is just another important step on the long road towards reaching that goal.

"The vast majority of the funding has comes from central government, so there is no direct cost to council taxpayers here in Adur and Worthing."

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