Shadow Environment Secretary impressed by energy-saving Chesterfield

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 4th Oct 2006

Chesterfield's position as one of the leading energy-conscious towns in the country has been underlined with a visit from a leading national politician. Chris Huhne MP, the Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary, toured some of the projects that have catapulted Chesterfield to the forefront of Britain's use of renewable energy.

Along with Borough Council Leader, Cllr Ray Russell, and the Council's Lead Member for Sustainability, Cllr Keith Morgan, he visited Queen's Park Sports Centre, one of two showpiece public buildings in Chesterfield powered by electricity made from light by photovoltaic cells.

Chesterfield Borough Council also has four major developments which use geothermal heating and cooling systems, utilising the Earth as an energy store instead of relying on energy created by burning fossil fuels or using nuclear power and Mr Huhne visited the most recently built of these - Prospect House, a development of offices and workshops in Staveley.

Mr Huhne also inspected a new housing development where the builders, Barratt, has, at the Borough Council's request, launched a scheme which for the first time gives their new homebuyers the chance to move into properties already set up with solar panels.

Chesterfield's success in utilising renewable energy has attracted comment in The Guardian and only last week the town was listed in the Top 10 most energy-conscious towns in Britain in a national Sunday newspaper.

Cllr Russell said: "Chris Huhne is as keen as we in Chesterfield are on the use of renewable energy, and he showed a great interest in what we are doing here.

"He intends to spread the word whenever he can about our initiatives, and hopefully persuade other towns to follow suit."