Two Weobley schools are set for a warm winter after a state-of-the-art biomass boiler has been fitted ahead of the colder months.
The boiler will help to heat both Weobley Primary School and Weobley High School, ensuring that the buildings are comfortable for pupils and staff as the temperature drops.
It will generate renewable, sustainable and cleaner energy using locally sourced wood chip and will help to reduce the heating costs.
The biomass boiler was unveiled by Ellie Chowns MP at a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday 27 September, during her tour of the primary and secondary schools.
The new heating system has been funded by Herefordshire Council as part of a £6.45 million school buildings maintenance programme. It replaces the school’s original boiler which was installed in 1998, resulting in the primary school being the first in the UK to be heated by a wood fuelled system.
Ellie Chowns MP for North Herefordshire, said:
“I’ve been absolutely delighted to have a tour of Weobley High School and the Primary School. It’s brilliant that Weobley Primary School was the first school in the country to have a woodchip boiler and now 25 years later it’s been renewed with fantastic support from Herefordshire Council.
“The new biomass boiler is super-efficient. It’s going to keep the students nice and warm and save the school lots of money on heating bills. Thank you so much to Herefordshire Council for supporting this brilliant project.”
Councillor Harry Bramer, Cabinet Member Community Services and Assets, added:
“The boiler installation is part of our schools improvement programme and is testament to our commitment to ensuring pupils and staff benefit from having an improved learning and working environment, while seeing reductions in the running costs at our schools.”
Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said:
“It’s good to see that the schools will be continuing with a sustainable heating system that uses carbon neutral and locally sourced woodchip, which is better for the environment than the burning of fossil fuels.”
Stephen Warrell, Headteacher of Weobley Primary School, said:
“It’s incredibly important that our students are able to study in the best possible learning environment. This new modern, efficient and affordable heating system will bring fantastic benefits to both schools by providing a warm environment for our staff and pupils throughout the colder months.
“We will also see a significant reduction in our energy costs, resulting in huge savings on our heating bills. I would like to thank Herefordshire Council for funding the new boiler and managing the installation project and also thanks to BBSM Ltd. of Tiverton, for installing it quickly and efficiently.”
