LOCAL voters ensured a landslide victory for an environmental project at the heart of a Middlesbrough community.
Nearly 1,000 votes ensured Easterside Partnership finished well ahead its regional rivals in the race to land a £12,500 grant from the Marks and Spencer Community Energy Fund.
The resounding success followed a high profile campaign in the local community and around the town, and work will start soon to put the money to good use.
Easterside has been at the forefront of the drive to achieve cuts in carbon emissions at a local level, becoming a community test bed in 2010 and installing solar panels and school wind turbines thanks to a £400,000 government grant.
Dennis Reeves, Warmer Homes Project Officer with Middlesbrough Environment City, who led the initiative, said: “The support’s been fantastic with so many people willing to support us, and I’m grateful to every single person who made the effort to vote.
“The money will enable us to install solar panels and LED lighting at the Community Hub, and these will also help to power the CCTV cameras.
“The scheme will reduce energy costs and make the centre more efficient and effective for the local community.”
“This important grant will enable us to implement the next phase of the Community Energy Saving & Safety in Easterside project and will make a real difference for everyone in the area.”