After shining each night for over 50 years, the lights of Fawley Power Station’s chimney have been extinguished for the last time.
The bright red warning lights at the top of the iconic 198m have been a feature of the Solent landscape since before many memories began – with the chimney being used as a landmark and navigational aid both during the day and at night.
As the next step of the Fawley regeneration works comes closer, the iconic tower has now had its electricity supply isolated in preparation for its demolishment shortly after the lights went out at 07:30 this morning (Thursday).
A notice to mariners and a notice to airmen has been released to reflect the change in the landscape.
Originally built in 1971, the iconic former oil-powered station was decommissioned in 2013 after several years of being mothballed as part of the Npower network due to the high cost of its fuel.
Plans were unveiled for a new 1,500 home development for the site in 2017, with the demolition of the structures beginning in October 2019 when the turbine hall roof and de-aerator building were razed to the ground.
Most recently, several of the power station’s boiler buildings were demoloished.
The date of execution for the chimney is currently not known, but is thought to be scheduled to take place in October.
Why is there not a campaign going to try and save the chimney? It is indeed iconic and if they get rid of it, they can’t put it back. IT IS A LANDMARK AND WELL KNOWN IN THE AREA AND AFFECTS THE ISLAND TOO AS IT FORMS PART OF THE VIEWPOINT FROM HERE. This greatly saddens me to hear this. I can’t believe something so iconic as the Fawley chimney can just be got rid of. It is better and more impressive than Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower.
Good luck with that.
I completely agree with you there. Been there since I was a child and I will be devastated once it’s gone. Good times.
What planet do you live on, It is and always was an eyesore.
I totally agree. Yet more civic vandalism. I’ve searched many times over the last 3 years to try to find a petition to sign to save the chimney but alas there isn’t one. The endless onslaught of new houses so close to the Forest is awful enough but why can’t we save the chimney? It’s an exceptional navigational aid as well as an iconic landmark visible for miles around – something I enjoy looking out for from different places. Is there anyone who can help? I guess it’s too late now.
The New Forest National Park Authority approved it. On the website showing details about the planning application and where people could vote for or against the chimney being demolished, the overwhelming majority wanted the chimney saved, hardly anyone at all wanted it gone, but they ignored everyone’s views. I think something went on, quietly, behind the scenes, as so often in cases like this, to get their way. They apparently thought it was “detrimental” to the New Forest, as though all the thousands of cars that will be driving around there once the houses are built won’t be! It is part of our industrial landscape and heritage and should be saved. I guess it needs some sort of national recognition outside of just the local area. It has connections with Star Wars and other films and also Peregrine Falcons nest on it. It”s use as a navigational tool also can’t be overlooked. There must be something can be done. Maybe the right people are not getting to hear about it?
I don’t think the news of the potential destruction is getting to the right people who could do something to save it. I always look out for the chimney. I’ve always loved it. From Ryde seafront the other week, it looked so lovely with its white top gleaming in the sun, saw it clearly when zoomed in with camera, it looked so majestic. A few yrs ago I heard they were going to build a companion chimney, even taller, I was so happy to hear that, then the terrible news about closure. thanks to EU rules. If only we could have left yrs earlier, the power station would no doubt be still up and running.
I’ve just read this article and it answered my pondering tonight as I’d looked out and noticed no lights on the chimney. I thought at first perhaps it was sea mist as that sometimes obscures the lights but I realised it was a clear night. “Strange” I thought to myself. I’ve grown up in East Cowes and the lights are such a familiar sight. I know it’s probably outdated etc but it’s SUCH a familiar sight that it seemed quite odd tonight not to see it!!! RIP ‘cigar’ Fawley chimney.
Sadly the iconic lights will be replaced with breeding hutches, with benefit paid for lighting adorning many houses, will lofts glowing with growing lamps, whilst pleading poverty and food aid to feed the next ‘delightful’ generation of takers from all corners of the globe to impovrish us all.
A long time ago now they had an open day at Fawley Power Station, I didn’t go because of what I was having to deal with at the time, but I regret it now. Wish I’d gone there. Very impressive place. It was on some sort of protected site, to do with Britain’s Heritage or something, can’t recall now, but when the protection ran out it had to be applied for again and there was some sort of clause saying they would not be allowed to protect it again. Seemed a bit fishy, like many things to do with property development are.