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Didcot A Power Station's demolition: residents call for delay | Didcot A Power Station's demolition: residents call for delay |
(35 minutes later) | |
Residents have appealed for the demolition of Didcot A Power Station to be changed from the early hours of the morning, so that they can watch it. | Residents have appealed for the demolition of Didcot A Power Station to be changed from the early hours of the morning, so that they can watch it. |
RWE NPower is due to blow up three of the southern cooling towers between 03:00 BST and 05:00 BST on 27 July. | RWE NPower is due to blow up three of the southern cooling towers between 03:00 BST and 05:00 BST on 27 July. |
A spokesman said people were welcome to watch, but were unlikely to get near. | |
Christine Reardon, who launched a petition, said: "Demolishing them whilst it is dark robs us of our chance to say a final goodbye." | Christine Reardon, who launched a petition, said: "Demolishing them whilst it is dark robs us of our chance to say a final goodbye." |
RWE NPower closed the coal-fired facility in March 2013 after 43 years of service. | RWE NPower closed the coal-fired facility in March 2013 after 43 years of service. |
'Delay the explosion' | 'Delay the explosion' |
Ms Reardon wrote: "Despite huge public interest in watching this, the time window for demolition has been announced as... before dawn. | Ms Reardon wrote: "Despite huge public interest in watching this, the time window for demolition has been announced as... before dawn. |
"Some of us have lived with the towers on our doorsteps for the last 40 years." | "Some of us have lived with the towers on our doorsteps for the last 40 years." |
She called on the company to "delay the explosion until [06:00 BST] and work with Didcot residents to ensure a safe, organised and memorable experience for everyone". | She called on the company to "delay the explosion until [06:00 BST] and work with Didcot residents to ensure a safe, organised and memorable experience for everyone". |
A spokesman for the energy company described the demolition as an "engineering event, not a public event". | |
He said the timing was designed to minimise disruption, and that the "health and safety of those undertaking it, and members of the public [was] paramount". | |
'Vantage point' | |
He added that he understood the "strength of feeling" within the local community, and people were still welcome to watch. | |
"They will need to take into consideration road closures in the area," he said. "The higher the vantage point the better." | |
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have already called it disappointing that people would miss the "historic occasion". | South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have already called it disappointing that people would miss the "historic occasion". |
The demolition of the cooling towers is expected to take less than a minute, with the rest of the site taking up to three years to clear. | The demolition of the cooling towers is expected to take less than a minute, with the rest of the site taking up to three years to clear. |
The company said the date and time of the work had been "the subject of careful consultation" with police, the Health and Safety Executive and Network Rail. | The company said the date and time of the work had been "the subject of careful consultation" with police, the Health and Safety Executive and Network Rail. |
RWE Npower sold part of the site of Didcot A Power Station to Clowes Developments in April for commercial and residential use. | RWE Npower sold part of the site of Didcot A Power Station to Clowes Developments in April for commercial and residential use. |