South Kesteven District Council has secured a further £3,587,500 for energy efficiency upgrades at The Meres Leisure Centre.

The cash award, from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 3c, will pay for a new low-carbon heating system, with an additional £492,500 coming from the council’s own budget.

Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Paul Stokes, said: “This is an excellent result for the Council, and I cannot thank the team here enough for their hard work and determination.  

“The utility costs for Grantham Meres Leisure Centre are substantial and have increased significantly since 2021. 

“This funding will allow for design and installation of a new low-carbon heating system to replace the existing gas boilers, which are old and inefficient.

“The scheme will be supported by the installation of additional solar panels, which are being funded by a separate allocation of funding from the Swimming Pool Support Fund (Phase Two), which we announced in March.

“The two-year design and installation project represents significant investment into Grantham Meres Leisure Centre, helping to secure its ongoing sustainability.”

Once in place the upgraded heading system will reduce carbon emissions from the site by over 550 tonnes of carbon per year which equates to 8% of the Council’s total carbon emissions and a quarter of the of the Council’s carbon reduction target of at least 30% by 2030.

SKDC, through its leisure company LeisureSK Ltd, is responsible for the three leisure centres – in Grantham, Stamford and Bourne.

In addition to the £445,725 announced in March – for solar panels and heat-retaining swimming pool covers – SKDC received £344,659 from the Swimming Pool Support Fund Phase One back in November, this money being utilised to offset the increased costs of utilities and pool chemicals for Grantham Meres Leisure Centre and Stamford Leisure Pool in financial year 2023/2024.Search