WORK to install energy saving solar panels and ‘sheep’s wool insulation’ at Skipton Town Hall has got underway.

Scaffolding has started to go up at the back of the hall in Jerry Croft ready for the project team to move onto the site on Monday.

It will mean the temporary closure of a small section of the pathway outside the town hall while work takes place.

Jerry Croft will however remain open throughout and access to the High Street car park will not be affected.

Contractors from renewable energy firm ‘Feed It Green’ will oversee the installation of the solar panels on the south facing concert hall roof after listed building consent was given last month.

The project is part of Craven District Council’s £1.2m ‘Zero Carbon Craven’ scheme – half of which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – to cut Craven’s carbon footprint to zero by 2030.

The solar panels are expected to save carbon emissions equivalent to planting more than 270 trees while the insulation should reduce heating costs in the concert hall.

The recent £4.7m redevelopment of the town hall has included other low carbon measures such as more efficient lighting, fans, insulation and smart controls. Further work to install energy saving technology will take place at the crematorium and Craven Leisure later in the year.