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-england-oxfordshire-28487288
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Didcot power station towers demolished | Didcot power station towers demolished |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three disused cooling towers at Didcot A Power Station have been demolished using more than 180kg of explosives. | Three disused cooling towers at Didcot A Power Station have been demolished using more than 180kg of explosives. |
The explosion, which flattened 36,000 tonnes of material, lasted less than a minute and was streamed live online by Demolition firm Coleman and Company. | The explosion, which flattened 36,000 tonnes of material, lasted less than a minute and was streamed live online by Demolition firm Coleman and Company. |
Hundreds of people arrived at the site to watch the towers come down despite warnings of a huge dust cloud. | Hundreds of people arrived at the site to watch the towers come down despite warnings of a huge dust cloud. |
The decision to carry out the demolition before sunrise has been criticised by some residents. | The decision to carry out the demolition before sunrise has been criticised by some residents. |
Mark Coleman, managing director of Coleman and Company, tweeted: #DidcotDemolition well done to all involved. A professional textbook job. Thank you to all the locals. I hope you enjoyed it #teamwork | Mark Coleman, managing director of Coleman and Company, tweeted: #DidcotDemolition well done to all involved. A professional textbook job. Thank you to all the locals. I hope you enjoyed it #teamwork |
Spectators had been advised to stay away from the "difficult to access" site and watch the event online instead. | Spectators had been advised to stay away from the "difficult to access" site and watch the event online instead. |
For those determined to witness the event, Earth Trust opened its car park at Wittenham Clumps, while First Great Western also offered free parking at its Foxhall Road car park. | For those determined to witness the event, Earth Trust opened its car park at Wittenham Clumps, while First Great Western also offered free parking at its Foxhall Road car park. |
Residents wanting the explosion to take place in the daylight "for everyone to see" had set up a Facebook page and petition, which received 700 signatures. | Residents wanting the explosion to take place in the daylight "for everyone to see" had set up a Facebook page and petition, which received 700 signatures. |
But Guy Esnouf, NPower's director of communications, said experts including the Health and Safety Executive, Thames Valley Police and Network Rail had advised an early time. | But Guy Esnouf, NPower's director of communications, said experts including the Health and Safety Executive, Thames Valley Police and Network Rail had advised an early time. |
He said: "We had 180kg of high explosives. That is an awful lot and you clearly don't want people and explosives near together. Safety has to come first." | He said: "We had 180kg of high explosives. That is an awful lot and you clearly don't want people and explosives near together. Safety has to come first." |
Following the explosion, a clean up operation has started to clear the area of dust, including the nearby railway line. | Following the explosion, a clean up operation has started to clear the area of dust, including the nearby railway line. |
Network Rail said it been assured by energy company RWE NPower, which runs the site, that "the railway line can reopen safely at 07:00". | Network Rail said it been assured by energy company RWE NPower, which runs the site, that "the railway line can reopen safely at 07:00". |
Homes and gardens being covered in dust had caused concern among some local residents living in nearby Foxhall Manor Park. | |
But Kieran Conarty from Coleman and Company said there would be "a series of jet washes to clean footpaths, buildings, roofs". | |
"Behind that there will be a series of road sweepers and behind that will be a series of operatives literally picking up the pieces." |