Details of a major green energy project, with a £40,000 grant already secured, have been received from Alison Hannath, former Assistant Town Clerk of Brigg and now Clerk to Bigby Parish Council, Also involved with Bigby's initiative is Clive Wilson, the former Brigg teacher who played hockey and cricket for clubs in the town. Bigby parish, in West Lindsey, borders Brigg on Bigby High Road, the far end of Westrum Land and along Cadney Road.
FROM BIGBY PARISH COUNCIL
Bigby Parish Council Sustainable Energy Project
(Think global, act local)
Bigby Parish Council is pleased to announce that it has been successful in gaining a £40,000 grant from the Midlands Rural Community Energy Fund.
Bigby Parish Council will be using the grant to undertake a feasibility study on the development of a sustainable energy source within the Parish. This will be completed by the end of March 2022.
Bigby Parish residents and Councillors started to seek a way to take local action on climate change during the lockdown in 2020. One option they considered was how to generate green energy using solar panels.
The criteria for placing solar panels on land is very strict. It has to be low quality growing land (Brown Field). Currently there is ‘brown field’ land in Bigby Parish in an area where sand and gravel has been previously extracted. Anthony Turnbull, who manages this land, has generously agreed to collaborate with the Parish Council in this feasibility study.
The contract for the feasibility study has been awarded to ARUP ‘energy team’ who will be exploring the potential for the site to produce and use ‘green energy’. Arup Consulting has an international reputation for planning, design and engineering, and is dedicated to sustainable development.
The hope is that they will be able to identify the ways that a development will support not only the wider agenda to address CO2 reduction, but also the ways that such a development can bring benefits to businesses, residents and visitors to the area. In particular, the Parish Council is keen to see how such a development will support the ‘next generation’ of young people in the locality to live and work in a sustainable manner.
Bigby Parish Council serves the people of Bigby Parish, and is keen to engage with parishioners, both residents and businesses. Please get in touch if you have thoughts on how we could shape any development.
Midlands Energy Hub
https://energyservices-ncc.co.uk/what-we-do/the-midland-energy-hub
ARUP Consulting
https://www.arup.com/our-firm
PICTURED ABOVE: Solar panels, the border between Brigg and Bigby on the High Road, and the A1084 near Bigby Hill.