BASINGSTOKE’S environment chief has hit back at criticism that a £1million fund for green improvements in the borough remains unspent.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Dr Paul Harvey – Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the Basingstoke seat – criticised Conservative-led Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for not spending money from a £1m Green Investment Fund that was created in April 2013.

Councillor Hayley Eachus, the borough council’s Cabinet member for community services and the environment, has now defended the delay in splashing the cash – and she said plans to spend it are in the pipeline.

Cllr Eachus told The Gazette: “Yes, it has been there since 2013 but the work that has to go into a project to find out how we can make it energy efficient is not simple.

“I can assure you there is a lot of work going on to ensure that the money will be spent properly.

“There are a number of projects we have been working on at the moment and I am hoping that at the beginning of this year, I can come back with details of projects.

“We have got some exciting ideas and we are working on some big projects.”

However, Cllr Eachus has said that although solar panels are popular, they won’t have the best impact on all buildings in the borough.

She added: “I know some critics are hell-bent on concentrating on solar panels and saying we haven’t used solar panels, but they are not the answer to making everything energy efficient.

“There is no point in putting solar panels on buildings that are not insulated, and other things like double glazing could be just as important and more cost-effective.

“I am confident that when we start to spend money, it will be in the right places, for the right groups and will achieve the right return and energy efficiencies in buildings such as community centres.”

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