A WOMAN claims she was misleadlingly told she would benefit from solar panels which are being put up at her home.

Workers started installing photo-voltaic panels on sheltered homes in Fairfield Gardens, Colchester, as part of a project involving 2,000 Colchester Council-owned buildings.

Eileen Holloway, 73, said she was initially promised the panels would help power lights and appliances in her home’s communal area and lead to cheaper service charges.

After they were installed, residents were told it would be too complicated to link the panels to the ground floor, so only residents on the first floor would benefit.

She said: “How can the upstairs people get a bit of a bonus when we don’t?

“We’re all pensioners and we’re all in the same boat. I think it’s totally out of order.”

Matt Armstrong, of housing manager Colchester Borough Homes has promised to investigate.

He said: “We are putting a lot of effort into providing residents with accurate information about the solar panel project.

“We are working with the contractor, Breyer Group, to get this right.

“We can’t guarantee in advance who will benefit from the panels, because of the design of the existing power systems.

“Most people who have the solar panels installed will benefit from cheaper electricity bills. During the consultation phase, residents agreed the project should go ahead even though not everyone could benefit.

“The project is just one way we are helping tenants cut their energy bills.”