Hopes public toilet solar panels will save flush of cash

Solar panels costing almost £10,000 are to be installed on the roof of a public toilet block in south Shropshire.

It is hoped the panels on the Auction Road loos in Bishop's Castle will save hundreds of pounds.

The town council agreed this week to press ahead with the £9,910 scheme.

Council chiefs say the Auction Yard toilets cost £6,000 a year to maintain.

Town council clerk Diane Malley said the panels would save hundreds of pounds in electricity. She said: "We secured a grant from the National Lottery Awards for All scheme to pay for the panels. They were originally going to cost around £13,000 but prices have recently dropped.

"The panels installed will be part of a 2.88kw power system.

"The Energy Saving Trust estimate the panels will generate 2,247kw every year to power the toilets and feed back into the electricity network. It is estimated we will cut of C02 emissions by 1,180kg every year with an estimated income and saving of £634."

The town council took on the Auction Yard toilets from Shropshire Council last April saving them from closure.

There are now two sets of public toilets in the town with the others located at the base of Bishop's Castle Town Hall.

Bishop's Castle Town Council received a one-off £5,000 payment from Shirehall to take on the extra toilet block. The town council is now being forced to cut budgets and make savings. Changes to the maintenance schedule of local playing fields have already been introduced to reduce costs.

Bishop's Castle mayor Keith Pinches said: "We convened a special meeting to push for solar panels on the toilets.

"They will be placed on the toilet roof to save costs."