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.”