Only 170 of Warwick district’s 511 solar panels will now be fitted

The panels will reduce carbon emissions and save on fuel bills for the lucky few.

The programme was cut back after the Government controversially changed the level of the support tariff available.

And even though last week the Court of Appeal blocked the bid to reduce the subsidies, the situation is unlikely to change in the current financial year. The Government has appealed and the case is now set to go before the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile council houses in the Crown and Brunswick wards, as well as Warwick West, have to be identified before the end of March so that the photovoltaic panels can be fitted within the council’s own financial year.

It was last October that the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) declared electricity generated from panels ordered or installed after December 12, would only qualify for the reduced tariff.

Some executive council members did warn that the installations needed to be swift as changes were expected.

But by the end of the year most homes had still not been identified although Cllr Norman Vincett, portfolio holder for housing and property, said the council would push ahead with a smaller programme.

Without commenting on the reduced number of panels to be fitted, he said: “This programme enables the district council to demonstrate effective community leadership in reducing the impact on the environment from non-renewable energy sources, as well as assisting tenants by contributing to the reduction of fuel poverty.”

Originally the sum of £3.3 million had been set aside from housing investment plus £375,000 of other capital found to pay for the installations.

• IN a separate issue the district council has won national funding of £118,000 to install “biomass” wood-fuelled heating systems to the homes of 25 rural tenants.