Councillors on the ruling Executive Committee of South Hams District Council have unanimously rejected a proposal by council officers and developers to install solar water heating panels on houses in the Southern Area development.

The decision, which shocked the town's District Councillors, not only goes against renewable energy and building standards advocated by the UK Government, the SouthWest Region and Devon County Council but also clearly conflicts with the aspirations of a town that wishes to become Britain's first Transition Town. (1)

Whilst there is widespread support for plans by community groups for Totnes to become a Zero Carbon town, South Hams policies have instead allowed the District to become one of the worst carbon emitters in the country. Recently released DEFRA figures indicate that the average South Hams resident uses more fuel and spends more money on energy than residents of anywhere else in Devon. The figures show that the South Hams is the second worst district in the SouthWest for carbon emissions and one of the worst in the UK. (2)

Community groups have already expressed concern that the Council's Affordable Housing policy makes no mention of the need for 'affordable warmth' - for higher than standard levels of insulation in social housing to prevent fuel poverty and had called for solar panels to be installed on the 'affordable houses' in the Southern Area (3). They have also criticised as outdated the "Eco-Homes Excellent" standard advocated by the Council, saying that it is now hardly higher than the legal minimum standard. Instead they want the Council to adopt the much higher Sustainable Homes standards advocated by Devon County Council and the SouthWest Regional Spatial Strategy. (4)

District Councillor Robert Vint said "Whilst I understand why the Executive is reluctant to spend money on market houses they should at least have installed solar heating in the social housing. They are in this mess because the standards they set for developers are so much lower than those recommended by the County, the Region and the Government and now hardly exceed the legal minimum".

For further information contact:    Cllr Robert Vint    01803 868523