Landmark cooling towers set to disappear from the skyline
FAMILIAR M1 SIGHT WILL BE GONE BY 2030
A LANDMARK familiar to millions of motorists is set to disappear from the side of the M1.
The plans to demolish the coalfired power station at Ratcliffe-onSoar, near Kegworth, along with its iconic cooling towers will see the landscape changed forever.
Residents are concerned about the environmental impact of the scheme, which could see a huge factory, hotel and new incinerator built on the site.
A draft Local Development Order (LDO) for the power station, which looms large over the A453, M1 and East Midlands Parkway station, has now been finalised by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
The station, which was commissioned in 1986, is expected to be shut down by 2024.
The plans include the demolition of the towers, which would be removed before a deadline of December 31, 2030.
Some villagers have opposed the proposals, which would grant planning permission for a range of modern industrial uses on the site including a gigafactory battery production facility, energy storage, logistics, research and development, with some questioning whether the development is needed at all.
Site owner Uniper has already received planning permission for a new waste incinerator on part of the power station site, known as the East Midlands Energy Re-Generation (Emerge) Centre.
Other plans have also been filed for a 150-bed hotel, food and retail outlets as well as the establishment of a Freeport to help the region’s economy.
Patrick Shawcroft, who has lived in Ratcliffe-on-Soar since 1983, has written to the Woodland and
Wildlife Trust, Uniper, and Rushcliffe’s Conservative MP Ruth Edwards about his fear for the loss of green space in the area.
He said: “It is just greed. Uniper is planning to build and develop the north side of the A453, that is fine, it is a brownfield site. But they are going to destroy greenfield land on the southside.
“There is woodland and fields and there is a massive fish pond and they are planning to develop on all of that. It is a shame. The brownfield side is no problem, but why do they have to destroy all the woodlands?
“There are around 180 acres and they may destroy 90 of that. I think the overall development is probably good. I think we need it. But stick to the brownfield side. It’s just a shame.”
Marie Rigby, who moved to the village a year ago, said: “It is one of those things that was happening before we moved here. It is what it is.
“We are grateful it is not right in front of us. It is a question of whether it is needed. And it is needed for employment. It is the end of an era. It will be sad because I’m a Clifton person so I have known those towers for 67 years. It is a landmark”.
A consultation period over the draft plans will run until September 5.
Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Councillor Simon Robinson, said: “Please again have your say on the future of this hugely important strategic and iconic site that could shape this part of Rushcliffe and the East Midlands and attract significant investment in the region for decades to come.
“The power station will close at the end of September 2024 in line with government policy to end coal-fired power generation and an LDO could secure its long-term future for it to remain a site of local, regional and national importance.
“Many power station sites often remain vacant for years after they have closed and the council is therefore taking this proactive approach to assist maximising its potential.
“With HS2 at the adjacent East Midlands Parkway also set to arrive in the future, it’s important to positively shape the future of the site and the LDO could deliver a major part of its future.”