Ashby Town Council have announced they have successfully reduced their carbon footprint by 56% in the last two years as part of their wider goal to be fully net zero by 2030. 

The news of their massively decreased carbon footprint was announced at the Finance Committee Meeting on Monday 13 October. 

The authority has also announced savings of around £2,000 in electricity costs from solar panel installations in the last 12 months. 

In addition to saving money and reducing their carbon footprint, Ashby Town Council have also decreased the amount of waste going to landfill, moved to an 100% renewable energy supplier and deployed their first electric vehicle. 

Following these wins for Ashby Town Council, the authority hopes to expand their electric vehicle fleet and install solar panels onto the roof of the grounds department depot on Range Road. 

Speaking about these adjustments, Councillor Tom Stanley said: 'This latest audit shows that the hard work to reduce the Council's carbon footprint is delivering results. 

'Importantly, the reductions are not just in carbon, but in costs too. So far, solar panels have saved around £2,000 from the council's electricity bill and they have been installed for just less than a year.  

'We plan to reinvest that money into the events and services we offer to the people of Ashby. 

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'The audit also makes a clear economic argument, as well as an environmental one, for removing carbon from the energy supply chain. We have already made changes that are resulting in a positive, recognisable impact on cost and carbon and we want to show that these changes benefit Ashby and the local community that we are all a part of. 

'While there is still work to be done, we are making strides forward to meet the challenges of net zero and plans are in place to continue moving forwards during the next twelve months.'