'Game-changer' cash as leisure centres go greener

Three leisure centres will move towards going carbon neutral after a council secured a £2.8m government grant for upgrade work.

Waterlane in Lowestoft, Deben in Woodbridge and Leiston Leisure Centre are to get air-source heat pumps for heating and CO2 heat pumps for hot water.

East Suffolk Council, which has contributed £2m, said the new systems - along with solar panels - would "significantly cut energy use and emissions".

Sarah Whitelock, cabinet member for communities, culture, leisure and tourism, described the funding as a "game-changer", adding: "We're proud to be taking action that benefits both residents and the planet."

"It allows us to make real progress towards our environmental goals while continuing to invest in high-quality leisure facilities for our communities," she added.

Deben Leisure Centre will also get a new roof, and all three centres will get more solar panels.

The council said its six leisure centres represented the single largest contributor to its total greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for around 42%.

Tackling emissions from the buildings was "crucial" to achieving its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, it added.

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