The date for the demolition of the iconic Fawley power station chimney has finally been announced today (Friday).
The 198m tall chimney has 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 previously reported, as part of the redevelopment of the land that the former power station stands on, the chimney was earmarked for demolition and just over 4 weeks ago its bright aircraft warning lights were extinguished for the last time.
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.
The execution date for the chimney has now officially been set, with both the chimney and the remaining southern end of the turbine hall being demolished by the use of explosives on Sunday 31st October at 07:00.
This date is, however, subject to change dependent on the suitability of the weather conditions.
From 05:30 an exclusion zone will be enforced around the site in Fawley and the surrounding areas. Sentries and police officers will mark the exclusion zone boundary on the mainland with the closures of a number of public footpaths.
Despite there being no designated viewing areas near to the chimney, those on the Island will be able to take advantage of several safe vantage points including East Cowes seafront and Cowes Parade.
It’s expected that a loud bang will accompany the demolition and residents of nearby towns such as Cowes, Gurnard, East Cowes and potentially Newport are warned to expect this.
It’s disgraceful. There were hundreds of comments objecting to the demolition, none in favour, just 1 not bothered either way IIRC, and yet all those objectors were ignored, so making nonsense of asking people to comment on planning anyway. The people behind the scenes who wanted it gone have got their way. Strings have been pulled. making a mockery of saying that people’s views on planning applications are taken into consideration. There is nothing else as high as that in the region and I bet they won’t replace it with something as high. I always hoped I’d be able to see it close up as never seen anything that tall. Sad
Yeah I agree Cherry Blossom, I think we should keep all monuments of a fossil fuel society, as memories for our children and grandchildren of how to really screw up the world. Perhaps they should open an asbestos museum as well? And one about thalidomide? And some sort of monument to BSE? It would be terrible to get rid of old stuff, to make way for new stuff wouldn’t it!!??
You “save the planet” merchants really make me sick. Go hug another tree and spare us your idealism.
That chimney is a landmark in its own right and provides home for Peregrine Falcons which nest on it. It can be seen in many areas for miles around, including here on the island, I always look out for it. They won’t replace it with a similar landmark of the same height. Just another useless for locals housing estate with grand ideas, destroying the whole area for nature and wildlife. The man overseeing said in early video they were keeping the chimney as it would be madness to get rid of it when Portsmouth spent so much on spinnaker and Fawley already had the chimney there as a landmark. Id like to know what, or who, made him change his mind. Got a pretty good guess! Overwhelming support for wanting it saved from locals but all ignored.
Why do it at 7am when it may well be dark? They know that many of the public will want to see the ending of this landmark, it makes no sense. Surely an hour or two later would not have made much difference to the demolition company?
They probably don’t want many of the general public hanging about, what with the odd protest and elf n safety etc.
True, however the exclusion zone should solve that. Clearly the tower is coming down whether people want it to or not, so better to do it when the public can see it, especially from over here on the island.
One expects there were howls of protest from here when they were constructed, saying what an eyesore they would be from the Island.
However, agree what is about to come in the form of breeding hutches will be far more of an eyesore unless you like orange people with false nails and lashes, and painted eyebrows and tattoed chavs outbreeding their and our environment yet all paid for by others.
Far more harmfull than the entire pollution emmited from the chimney could ever produce.
Completely agree, Awful thought. Even with the power station there, it was a lovely peaceful area, it won’t be that any longer once all those hutches are built, not for the local people of that area either. The chimney is indeed a landmark though and should have been saved. I dread to think what that once peaceful location is to become; The people in the region have my utmost sympathy for what they will have to endure for what is coming their way.