A WELL-KNOWN pavilion in Hereford will be getting a revamp thanks to "significant funding", and will use it to harness the power of the nearby river Wye.

The Friends of Castle Green has started the "much-needed renovations" to the pavilion, Hereford City Council said, as the funding means the first phase of planned improvements can get underway.

The work includes the installation of a renewable energy heating system at the pavilion, which was transferred to the group from Herefordshire Council in 2018, with the system thought to be the first of its kind in Hereford.

The system will use the river Wye as its source and by harnessing renewable energy source, more than 15 tonnes of carbon per year will be saved. Hereford City Council said this will be "a giant step toward carbon reduction and a huge money saving exercise".

Hereford City Council said: "Funding has been received from the government’s towns fund programme and Marches Renewable Energy Trust via Herefordshire Council, as well as Hereford City Council, allowing Friends of Castle Green to replace the existing gas boiler and install this modern, renewable river source system, the first of its kind in Hereford city centre."

Paddy Nugent, a Friends of Castle Green director, said: “This is an incredibly exciting project and we are grateful for the funding that has allowed us to make these building improvements which will ensure that the pavilion becomes a multifunctional, flexible and accessible space for evolving community use.

"We hope that this technology will act as a beacon of innovation and encourage other local facilities to harness the natural resource of the river for renewable energy.”

The city council spokesperson added that the Friends of Castle Green has also been included by the Hereford Towns Fund Board in their town investment plan funding bid submission to receive up to £25 million from programme.

The initiative aims to revitalise and regenerate the city through investment in a number of projects meeting a strict criteria.

Friends of Castle Green has applied for funds to further renovate and regenerate the pavilion building as an extensive community consultation in 2018 highlighted a need for improved facilities and this funding will allow the group to carry out proposed requirements to further the building for the whole community.