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| Inverkip Power Station chimney demolished | Inverkip Power Station chimney demolished |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Demolition experts have brought down Scotland's tallest free-standing structure with two explosions. | Demolition experts have brought down Scotland's tallest free-standing structure with two explosions. |
| The 236m-tall (778ft) chimney at the former Inverkip Power Station, near Greenock in Inverclyde, was destroyed at 22:00 BST on Sunday. | The 236m-tall (778ft) chimney at the former Inverkip Power Station, near Greenock in Inverclyde, was destroyed at 22:00 BST on Sunday. |
| It contained more than 1.4 million bricks and 20,000 tonnes of concrete. | It contained more than 1.4 million bricks and 20,000 tonnes of concrete. |
| The title of Scotland's tallest free-standing structure passes to Longannet Power Station chimney, in Fife, which is 183m-tall (600ft). | The title of Scotland's tallest free-standing structure passes to Longannet Power Station chimney, in Fife, which is 183m-tall (600ft). |
| The Inverkip chimney, which was almost as high as Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, was toppled by two controlled explosions in quick succession. | The Inverkip chimney, which was almost as high as Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, was toppled by two controlled explosions in quick succession. |
| About 700 charges placed half way up the structure were set off one second before the detonation of 450 charges at its base. | About 700 charges placed half way up the structure were set off one second before the detonation of 450 charges at its base. |
| Before the blasts, a police helicopter had used thermal imaging equipment to ensure that no-one was in the area. | Before the blasts, a police helicopter had used thermal imaging equipment to ensure that no-one was in the area. |
| An exclusion zone of 600m had been put in place from 17:00, with debris expected to reach a maximum of 150m away from the blast. | An exclusion zone of 600m had been put in place from 17:00, with debris expected to reach a maximum of 150m away from the blast. |
| About 70 police officers were present, with a further 40 security staff based around the perimeter. | About 70 police officers were present, with a further 40 security staff based around the perimeter. |
| Dylan Hughes, from energy firm Scottish Power, said: "The demolition team have been working towards this day for two years, and it was fantastic to see all of our detailed preparations and calculations culminate in such a dramatic event. | Dylan Hughes, from energy firm Scottish Power, said: "The demolition team have been working towards this day for two years, and it was fantastic to see all of our detailed preparations and calculations culminate in such a dramatic event. |
| "Comprehensive planning and consultation ensured the event could be managed safely. | "Comprehensive planning and consultation ensured the event could be managed safely. |
| "There has never been an explosive demolition of a structure this size in Scotland before so it is quite a feat to achieve a demolition on this scale." | "There has never been an explosive demolition of a structure this size in Scotland before so it is quite a feat to achieve a demolition on this scale." |
| Scottish Power said that Inverclyde Council was considering an application to redevelop the site for housing. | Scottish Power said that Inverclyde Council was considering an application to redevelop the site for housing. |
| The Inverkip operation marked the end of a power station that was never able to fully operate as intended. | The Inverkip operation marked the end of a power station that 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. |