This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23479026
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Inverkip Power Station chimney set for demolition | Inverkip Power Station chimney set for demolition |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Demolition experts are set to bring down Scotland's tallest free-standing structure. | Demolition experts are set to bring down Scotland's tallest free-standing structure. |
| Explosives will be used to topple the 236m (778ft) tall chimney at the former Inverkip Power Station near Greenock in Inverclyde. | Explosives will be used to topple the 236m (778ft) tall chimney at the former Inverkip Power Station near Greenock in Inverclyde. |
| The chimney contains more than 1.4 million bricks and 20,000 tonnes of concrete, and is almost as high as Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. | The chimney contains more than 1.4 million bricks and 20,000 tonnes of concrete, and is almost as high as Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. |
| The operation will take place at 22:00 on Sunday. | The operation will take place at 22:00 on Sunday. |
| The chimney will be toppled by two controlled explosions taking place in quick succession. | The chimney will be toppled by two controlled explosions taking place in quick succession. |
| About 700 charges placed halfway up the structure will be set off one second before the detonation of 450 charges at its base. | |
| Before the blasts, a police helicopter will use thermal imaging equipment to ensure that no-one is in the vicinity. | Before the blasts, a police helicopter will use thermal imaging equipment to ensure that no-one is in the vicinity. |
| An exclusion zone of 600m was put in place from 17:00, with debris expected to reach a maximum of 150m. | |
| About 70 police officers will be present, with a further 40 security staff based around the perimeter. | About 70 police officers will be present, with a further 40 security staff based around the perimeter. |
| After the demolition, Scotland's tallest free-standing structure will be the chimney at Longannet Power Station, which is 183m (600ft)tall. | After the demolition, Scotland's tallest free-standing structure will be the chimney at Longannet Power Station, which is 183m (600ft)tall. |
| The Inverkip operation will mark the end of a power station which was never able to fully operate as intended. | The Inverkip operation will mark the end of a power station which was never able to fully operate as intended. |
| The oil-fired facility was given planning permission in 1970, and was designed to meet peak demand and provide flexibility to the electricity supply network. | The oil-fired facility was given planning permission in 1970, and was designed to meet peak demand and provide flexibility to the electricity supply network. |
| However, the soaring price of oil in the 1970s meant the station was never commercially operated - except in 1984 and 1985, as a result of coal shortages. | However, the soaring price of oil in the 1970s meant the station was never commercially operated - except in 1984 and 1985, as a result of coal shortages. |
| The plant was kept as a strategic reserve until the late 1990s, when it was mothballed. | The plant was kept as a strategic reserve until the late 1990s, when it was mothballed. |