Libraries and other public buildings will be getting a green boost.

Gillingham's Medway Park leisure centre and the Central Theatre in Chatham are among Medway Council-owned buildings which are tipped to have solar panels installed.

The authority has made applications to itself to fit the power sources to the buildings as well as libraries in Cuxton, Gillingham, and Lordswood.

Cllr Howard Doe (Con), the council's deputy leader and lead on their climate change agenda, said: “Our plans to install solar panels at Medway Park, the Central Theatre and at libraries in Cuxton, Gillingham and Lordswood are part of phase one of our £12 million retrofit energy efficiency programme which aims to make our council buildings more environmentally friendly.

"As part of the first phase of the works we will be focussing on making improvements to 11 buildings, including installing electric vehicle charging points and LED lighting at Gun Wharf and installing heat pumps at Gillingham, Lordswood and Wigmore libraries and The Brook Theatre.

"The annual carbon savings across all 11 sites is expected to equal 446 tonnes of CO2.

"Future phases will be delivered annually and include other council corporate buildings.

"Where possible, solar panels will be installed alongside other energy-saving measures.

"This exciting project supports our recently adopted Climate Change Action Plan and our aspiration to achieve carbon neutrality in Medway by 2050.”

To find out more about the council's action plan, click here.