Solar switch at pool once powered by factory steam

A historical swimming pool once heated by steam from a neighbouring chocolate factory has had solar panels installed to help cut running costs.

The 182kWh roof panels at York's Yearsley Swimming Pool, which has hosted dippers for 116 years, are said be able to save about £23,000 from annual running costs while cutting CO2 emissions by 29 tonnes.

The pool, currently heated by gas, once used steam supplied by the neighbouring Rowntree's Chocolate Factory, now Nestlé UK Ltd.

Paul Bickle, York partnership manager for GLL Ltd, which runs the city's four leisure centres, said the technology would protect the pool's future.

Pete Kilbane, deputy leader of York City Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that pools were expensive to run but vital to support people's health and wellbeing and Yearsley was much-loved by the local community.

A bigger set of panels than needed at the moment has been fitted to accommodate future efforts to decarbonise, the authority added.

The installation followed a grant from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority's Mayoral Renewables Fund, which provides cash to the public sector to cut energy bills and reduce emissions.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.