Grant helps Cullen Bowling and Tennis Club head for sunny future
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THE sun has certainly been shining Cullen Bowling and Tennis Club (CBTC) after members proudly unveiled brand new solar panels.
An investment totalling more than £30,000 has seen the club install two banks of panels on a stretch of ground to the rear of the premises, and the benefits of sustainably-generated power are already having a positive impact.
CBTC President Allan Petrie said: “Our energy bills were extortionate so we started thinking about installing solar panels to try and bring these down.
“The panels we needed were going to be too heavy for the roof of the building, which was too flat in any case for them to work, so we’ve sited them on a spare piece of ground to the rear of the club, where we also have battery storage.
“They’ve already made a huge difference - our bill previously was about £1000 a month but now our latest one is down to around £300. As well as reducing our energy bills the solar panels will help the club reduce its carbon footprint on the journey to net zero.
“We were grateful to get a grant for 80 per cent of the cost from Local Energy Scotland. It was a long, slow process but worth it in the end. Their staff were brilliant and very helpful in applying for the grant, as were local MSP Karen Adam and her team, who were excellent, too.”
Mr Petrie went on to say that the club first began looking at solar panels last February, although the initial quote they received was considered far too expensive. However, around August CBTC hooked up with Strichen-based NSB Contracting who have been, Mr Petrie stated, “just magic to work with”.
Popping along recently to see the finished article for herself was Ms Adam.
She said: “This is a good example of how the Scottish Government’s Local Energy Fund can make a practical difference to local community groups.
“The money is available for community groups like CBTC to enhance their green credentials and their journey to net zero.
“Projects like this show that grants aren’t just for huge, very expensive schemes, facilities of all sizes can benefit to help their transition.
“Cullen Bowling and Tennis Club have a fantastic facility and what they’ve done here is help futureproof it and their financial stability.”
Ms Adam added that she and her team were always available to help groups, firms and other organisations apply for funding. Her constituency team can be contacted via email at Karen.Adam.msp@parliament.scot or by phone on 07826 548813.
