Anglers Rest, Bamford

Local pub is ‘Angling’ for your support for solar power  The Angler’s Rest in Bamford, a community owned pub, shop and café, is in the running for a share of the £350,000 M&S Community Energy Fund, after applying for funding to enable them to install solar panels. Now, the Derbyshire base community business is asking local people to show their support and to help them to save some of its annual £20,000 energy bill, by voting for the project online at: www.mandsenergyfund.com/projects/power-to-the-anglers The M&S Community Energy Fund is a national renewable community energy project competition, and was launched earlier this summer. The fund will be awarding two national awards of £40,000 and £20,000, regional awards for projects across Great Britain that require a maximum of £12,500, and £15,000 for the most inspiring or innovative project. If the bid is successful, the Angler’s Rest intends to install solar panels in their car park, which would offset a chunk of their £20,000 annual energy bill. Chris Williams, Finance Director at the Anglers Rest explains, “We are so proud of the pub and everything it brings to the local community. We have been running as a community hub for the past three years and 80 per cent of our members say that they have met more people as a result of being involved with the project, with 75 per cent saying that they fell more part of the community. “We are managing our finances and spend £250,000 a year in our local economy, but we are always looking for ways to save money and to lower our running costs. We are also keen to be green and we are working on the building to make it more energy efficient, but what would really help up would be to reduce our crippling energy bill. It currently costs £20,000 a year for the energy to keep the building open from 8am for the café and post office, through to pub closing time. “We have planning permission for solar panels in our car park, and volunteers have helped us to prepare the site. Now all we need are the panels themselves, and that’s where the M&S Community Energy Fund comes in. “We hope that local people will get behind this community business and vote for us. It is really quick and easy to vote online and winning would make a huge difference to our community hub.” For more information on the project and to vote please visit www.mandsenergyfund.com/projects/power-to-the-anglers