Council tenants are being invited to give their views on the future of Stoke-on-Trent's controversial council housing solar panel scheme.

The 'Solarplaicity' project was launched in 2018, and around 5,000 of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's houses now have solar panels on the roof.

In the five years since the project launched, Solarplicity Smart Systems Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation and OFGEM are investigating complaints against the Community Energy Scheme and the City Council.

The scheme was launched to help tenants lower their energy bills and generate sustainable green energy. However, a number of complaints into how it was operated were raised over the course of the project.

In December 2022 thousands of tenants were offered the chance to withdraw from the controversial scheme. However, families were warned that it was 'very likely' they would end up paying more.

And In January this year, campaigners protested in an attempt to lobby members of the city council to vote for a motion which called for an independent inquiry into the procurement, governance and operational processes.

OFGEM is investigating complaints against the Community Energy Scheme and Stoke-on-Trent City Council (Unsplash).

Council tenant Paul Hulme, who moved into a bungalow with solar panels installed and has finally won his battle to get them removed, said he supported the call for evidence.

The 55-year-old, from Ingleton Grove in Meir, said: "I have had my panels taken off eventually. It took me over 12 months but they've finally gone. They were on the house first and I told them basically I don't want them. It was bad, we were getting birds in the loft. It was ridiculous really, but they wanted me to keep them."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has now formally made a call for evidence.

Council leader Jane Ashworth said: "We have been aware, for a number of years, that some tenants have serious concerns about the way this scheme has been operated in the past. When we took office as a new administration in May, we made it very clear that we would be giving tenants a voice for these concerns, to ensure that they are listened to and that they are acted on appropriately.

"This review is the opportunity for tenants to come forward to give their evidence. I, and my cabinet, encourage all tenants to give their feedback. We will keep the end date of the call for evidence open for as long as possible so that as many people as possible have the opportunity to give their views. But the sooner residents give their feedback, the sooner we can take this forward."

Tenants can submit their evidence to the review by emailing the authority at [email protected].

TO FIND OUT HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BILLS THIS SUMMER - CLICK THE 'HELP FOR HOUSEHOLDS' BANNER ABOVE THIS ARTICLE. 

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