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  • "I would rather have had a solar farm that would benefit all. The income used for public services across the borough. There are plenty of people living in non housing association property who are struggling to pay their fuel bills.


    I notice the councillor talks of the cost of the previously proposed solar farm but fails to say the amount this scheme, that benefits traditional labour areas is costing."
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Solar panels will repay costs

10:46am Thursday 3rd May 2012 in Letters

MR Brown, in his letter of April 19, seems to have misunderstood my explanation about the funding of improvements to Causeway Park. To explain how section 106 agreements work, they come about at the stage when a developer is seeking to gain planning permission for a building development. At this stage negotiations can take place with the planning authority – in this case Warrington Borough Council – to seek recompense for the planned development. A financial agreement is put in place to fund improvements and the developer is made financially responsible as a pre-requisite for gaining planning permission.

The area around Causeway Park has seen the development of a number of apartment blocks over several years. Planning officials negotiated a 106 agreement with certain developers stipulating that they provide the funding for improvements to the fencing and pathways in the park. If this work had not been carried out, the money would have had to be returned to the development company with no gain for residents.

Regarding solar energy, the money that has been invested in solar panels was borrowed based on a business plan which will repay all costs plus a significant surplus to the council through feed-in tariffs. Far from losing out, council taxpayers will benefit from this arrangement. At the same time, the council has ensured that these solar panels have been installed on the homes of some of the people most at risk of fuel poverty. This in clear contrast to the previous Lib Dem plans to spend £10 million on a solar farm.

If Mr Brown would like to discuss any issues with me directly, he is welcome to contact me at mmclaughlin@warrington.gov.uk.

CLR MAUREEN McLAUGHLIN Latchford

Local Businesses

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