EFFORTS to re-open The Hub are continuing as it bids for up to a further £100,000.

Project leaders have just become aware of a fund to put solar PV panels on the roof of its Church Street building to generate its own electricity.

British Gas in partnership with River Cottage are offering grants through their Energyshare scheme to fund projects that want to create clean renewable energy and reduce energy consumption.

The Hub would like to put solar panels on its new roof and insulate the building to reduce heating costs.

Energyshare may pay up to £100,000 towards this if enough people back the idea on the scheme’s website.

The Hub has submitted an outline proposal and will find out if it gets an invitation to make a detailed application on July 12. The public can only show their support through the website at www.energyshare.com/wwwhublymecouk A link is also on The Hub’s Facebook page and website www.hublyme.co.uk Fundraiser Ayvin Rogers said: “We had a midnight deadline last Thursday to register our interest and drum up as much support as possible.

“We hope that readers who use the internet will take a minute to go to the Energyshare website and show their support.”

In two days, 259 people signed up to support The Hub’s solar bid, making it the 25th most popular project in the country out of 936.

Insulation and solar panels could create an income of up to £4,000 a year for The Hub by selling electricity.