The work of villagers to make their community hall a warm hub for this winter has been backed by Rishi.
The MP supported Aldbrough St John Village’s application for a grant towards its solar power project and visited the hall near Richmond to see work in progress.
The village hall charity had previously installed solar panels on the hall roof but had limited battery capacity to store the energy generated.
It successfully applied to the Northern Powergrid Foundation for £12,500 to buy additional battery capacity, enabling the hall to be used as an energy resilient community warm hub in the event of winter powers cuts hitting the village.
The additional storage means the hall will also be able provide emergency supplies for those with electricity-powered medical equipment.
Rishi, who wrote in support of the village hall’s grant application, said he was impressed by the villagers’ work to ensure the community derived maximum benefit from the hall.
“They have an excellent community hall and this investment means it will be a source of support and comfort in the worst of winter weather,” he said. “The village hall team have done a great job to ensure the most vulnerable in the community have that piece of mind.”
During Rishi’s visit to the hall, he saw work underway constructing the storage area for the additional batteries and met many of the villagers who will benefit.
Andrew Parker, village hall trustee and former treasurer, said Aldbrough St John was subject to power cuts in poor weather.
Mr Parker said: “The village hall will mainly benefit from using a much greater percentage of power generated now we have the additional storage capacity in the new batteries. This will significantly drive down our main operating cost of the hall, electricity. Rishi’s support is appreciated by the hall trustees and users.”
