SOLAR panels are to be added to the roof of Weymouth’s bus depot.

First Bus has asked to fit 166 panels to the building which Dorset Council say can go ahead without the need for full planning consent, using permitted development rights rules.

The panels, in good weather conditions, should be capable of producing 67.23 kw of energy, and will be mounted on the south facing roof only. A previous application had included a larger area of roof and would have generated roughly a third more power.

First Bus says it will use a light-weight mounting system with the panels cabled together for safety.

Both the mounting system and cabling will be fitted on the underside of the solar panels, and will be  out of sight. A single direct current cable run will enter the building at the top of the side wall, feeding in to connect the solar PV panels to the internal electrics room, where the energy will be converted, and used on site.

Weymouth town council raised no objection to the proposal as did ward councillor, Green Party member, Cllr Jon Orrell, who added in his comments that solar panels should be compulsory on all commercial buildings.