Telford could become a national leader in “green” energy, with a mini-biomass plant in the town centre, helping to heat homes and keep the ice rink frozen, council bosses claim.

They also hope to see a big increase in the number of wind turbines, claiming their appearance will eventually become much more acceptable to the public.

And they also want to encourage the use of solar power and geo-thermal projects using the heat from the ground.

Their ambition is to make the borough a “zero waste community”, recruiting young people as ambassadors for a cleaner, greener way of life.

Telford’s future as “a sustainable green community” is spelt out in Vision 2026, a newly updated blueprint for the next two decades.

Reflecting the views of Telford & Wrekin Council’s Conservative rulers, the document features a more ambitious green agenda to tackle climate change.

“We will encourage sustainable forms of energy supply,” the document declares.

No firm plans are detailed but the sort of scheme proposed is a mini-biomass plant, perhaps burning locally sourced woodchip fuel, providing hot water for homes and shops and cooling for the ice rink.

“We will actively encourage renewable sources of energy – solar, wind and geo-thermal – to contribute to future energy supplies in the borough,” the document says.

Vision 2026 promises Telford will make major progress towards its ambitious target of cutting carbon emissions by 36 per cent from 1990 levels.