COUNCILLORS want more information before making a decision on whether to add more solar panels to the roof of a multi-storey car park.
The city council wants to increase the number of solar panels on the top deck of St Martin’s Gate car park.
But rising costs have threatened to put the scheme on hold as the work would cost about £140,000 more than first thought and would generate only a 0.5 percent return on investment, compared to the 2.5 percent initially predicted.
Shane Flynn, corporate director for finance and resources, told the council’s policy and resources committee on Tuesday (September 3): “From my point of view that’s very marginal and carries a significant risk.”
He recommended gaining planning permission for the project but holding off on actually doing the work until the business case was “more robust”.
Cllr Karen Lawrance asked how much it would cost to close the top floor of the car park, which Worcester City Council says only really fills up around Christmas, and install solar panels on the ground.
The original plan was to install the panels on steel frames, which makes installation more expensive but keeps the majority of car parking spaces available.
Cllr Louis Stephen said: “We have declared a climate emergency and we have seen climate change affecting us here in Worcester and elsewhere around the country. It is happening here and now.”
READ MORE: Rising costs put Worcester car park solar panel plan at risk
READ MORE: Plan to install more solar panels at St Martin's Gate
Cllr Jabba Riaz said: “We’ve got the Shrub Hill plan coming in the next 10-15 years, we’ve got parking issues in and around the city centre, why would we want to wipe a floor off of our car park?”
Cllr Karen Lewing said: “I see a flat car park as a real opportunity - I don’t think you’ll find a project that is more simple, and if you take away the framework which has carbon in the steel, you have a huge saving in the cost.
“The public will look at this and say ‘why is the public sector so slow?’ because you couldn’t really have a simpler project could you?”
Committee chair and council leader Lynn Denham said: “The reason the public sector goes slowly is because we are spending public money,” adding: “Clearly there is a need for more information.”
The committee are now set to decide on the plans at their November meeting.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel