PLANS for a revolutionary energy project in Petersfield gathered pace last week when East Hampshire district councillors were given a presentation on the project after proposals were welcomed by the countryside and environment panel earlier this year.

The Petersfield Project, a UK first in the way it will look at the needs of a whole community with regard to renewable energy sources, could change the way the town thinks about its energy needs and save homes, schools and businesses thousands of pounds each year.

Patrick Burridge, portfolio holder for countryside and environment, said: ÒThe topic of renewable energy sources and how to harvest them is arguably the debate of the era. I am delighted that at EHDC we can play our part in engaging the community in this issue.Ó

The project aims to show how a small market town can become self-sufficient in energy from renewable sources such as biomass, wind and solar power.

But Richard Coles, of Hampshire County Council, which is a partner in the project, was keen to point out that this was not a study Ôthat will be put on a shelfÕ.

He said the project would be a commercial model that other areas could learn from.

Linda Glynn, of the Wessex Coppice Trust, said that the most likely source of energy for the town would be biomass, a system using sustainable wood sources.

Councillors were told that 22 per cent of East Hampshire is woodland, producing 38,000 tonnes of growth per year. This could be enough to power 30 towns the size of Petersfield.

Mrs Glynn said at this stage the council was keeping an open mind on what form the project would take, and said that proposals ranging from a single plant, about the size of a bungalow, through to many smaller domestic plants, could be considered, depending on what was ÔrightÕ for Petersfield.

The project is currently assessing five consultants who have applied to run the scheme.

Mr Coles outlined the sources of funding available, both from the UK and the EU.

Councillors were told that they were being brought into the project at an early stage and the wider community would be involved as soon as a contractor had been brought online.