Oswestry Town Council considers solar panels in car park

A presentation was put to town councillors at Oswestry Town Council’s full meeting on Wednesday from Alan Davies, who had previously asked councillors to consider a scheme for Central Car Park (CCP).

However, a motion from Councillor Duncan Kerr, after a long debate within the public session, led to councillors’ support for potentially using Horsemarket Car Park.

OTHER NEWS:

• Angler nabs lake's record fish 'Big J' again - just five days after first catch
• Pilot has lucky escape as plane suffers mechanical failure over Shropshire
• Severn Trent hit with hefty fine after illicit roadworks in Whittington

Mr Davis told councillors that councils, including nearby Wrexham, are installing more and more solar panels on their buildings.

He then took questions from councillors, including Cllr Kerr who asked whether roads in the town could be converted into solar panels -  a system that has been trialled by a business in Canada.

Mr Davies said that was a recent development but current panels are sheets of glass and could not be used that way.

Cllr Rosie Radford asked if the structure meant that parking spaces would need to be rejigged or lost and he explained that it would work like a car port.

Cllr Frank Davies asked why more councils were not pushing for more panels on industrial sites when the buildings are already there and it was the ‘obvious’ one to do.

Cllr Jonathan Upton asked how it would work logistically with regarding to covering the cars and Mr Davies replied that it could be per car or all of the car park.

Cllr Mark Jones, who supported the idea, asked whether neighbours south of the car park would be affected by ‘glare’ from the sun while mayor Cllr Olly Rose – chairing the meeting – said she had spoken to solar panel companies.

She added: “They said it is much cheaper to put panels on roofs of public buildings and that any CCP scheme would be a low priority.”

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

Town clerk Arren Roberts agreed but added that money has been secured to reduce the carbon output of the Guildhall and the Powis Indoor Market.

He said: “I may have a way forward – I’ve spoken to Big Solar and others and the view is that roofs are better and you sell the electricity.”

He added that it would give the council a pilot opportunity to look into the possibility, which led to Cllr Kerr’s motion that was passed with a majority.