Installing solar panels on the roof of a local village hall would help keep it financially viable, the charity which runs it has said.

Lowsonford Village Hall has applied for the panels on part of the roof at the Rookery Lane site, saying they could help save up to £2,000 a year.

If approved, the development would deliver 11.625kw of "solar pv generated capacity" and battery storage.

The application said: "The viability of the charity operating the village hall has been brought into question following reduction in demand following the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise in power costs. 

"To remain viable, and therefore to continue to operate this community asset, the charity needs to reduce the costs of power without incurring material capital costs. 

"To that end, the charity has secured agreement from a grant funder to cover all costs of the proposed solar pv and battery installation. 

"If delivered, the annual power costs of the village hall would likely fall [by] at least £2,000, which would make the operation viable."

Plans show the panels would be put on the western side of the roof. The eastern side would not have any so the panels are not visible from the canal side.

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"In summary, the proposed development is critical to the ongoing viability of operating this community asset," the application continued. 

"Furthermore, it minimises the visual impact of the scheme from the canal-side aspect."

Click here to see the full planning application.

(Header image by Robin Stott via geograph.org.uk)