WADEBRIDGE's visionary energy group has just been awarded £68,000 by the Government to boost its next round of energy-saving initiatives.

The Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN) is a not-for-profit energy co-operative that is making a name for the town as a centre of excellence on energy issues.

Understanding

The WREN project has been awarded the money as part of the coalition Government's Local Energy Assessment Fund, which awards funding to organisations to improve understanding of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation issues at a local level.

"We are delighted to have been awarded this money. It will allow very important work to go ahead," said WREN's technical director, Jerry Clark.

"There's a great deal of work that now needs to be done bringing our local housing stock up to scratch, and this money will help us assess what needs to be done.

"We want to categorise our housing stock and get an idea of the energy efficiency of each type of house and then look at ways of reducing energy expenditure.

"We also want to involve big energy users in this scheme.

"We have already made contact with schools and we are also looking at public buildings and some of the bigger businesses in our area."

Wadebridge's funding boost was welcomed by Dan Rogerson, MP.

The Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, said: "This is another piece of great news for our area.

"The money will be a great boost for WREN and will help people to save energy and keep costs down at a time when we are all concerned about rising energy and fuel prices."

The funding is another boost for North Cornwall, as the coastal parish of St Gennys was awarded £103,000 by the same scheme in January.

"The St Gennys Low Carbon Community is already starting work on using the money to help local people with going green and saving money," said Mr Rogerson.

"I look forward to seeing this new funding being used in Wadebridge."