SOLAR panels are being proposed for three Dorset village schools – with approval expected at a planning committee next week.

The applications are for Cheselbourne, Cerne Abbas and Stickland’s school at Evershot.

Each of the applications will be funded through a £19million grant given to Dorset Council by the Government to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings.

The planning applications are being considered at the afternoon meeting of the council’s northern area committee on Tuesday, January 11.

A total of 28 panels are being proposed for the roof of Cheselbourne Village School in Drakes Lane in seven blocks on the south-eastern and south-western facing roofs; 88 panels are being proposed for Cerne Abbas Church of England First School in Duck Street on the eastern and western facing roof planes of the main building while 94 panels are proposed in seven blocks on a range of roof areas at Stickland’s CE voluntary aided primary school in Summer Lane, Evershot, including the principal south-west facing roof plane of the original school building. The Evershot application also includes two wall-mounted air source heat pumps.

Councillors are being recommended to approve each of the applications – none of which have been commented on by the relevant parish councils or ward councillors.