Power station towers will be no more as demolition date set
ADATE has been set for the demolition of the iconic towers at Fiddler’s Ferry power station.
The towers at the site in Cuerdley, which can be seen from as far away as the Peak District, will be demolished in a controlled explosion in December.
Civil engineering and groundworks specialists from PP O’Connor are carrying out the work, known as a ‘blowdown’.
It will result in a dust cloud which could last up to 15 minutes.
The blow-down will take place between 8am and noon on Sunday, December 3, to minimise any impact on residents and reduce traffic disruption in the area.
PP O’Connor says it will only take a matter of seconds but the dust could last for anything between 10 and 15 minutes.
The Cuerdley site has been earmarked for housing and industrial use after the power station closed in March 2020 after nearly 50 years.
The demolition plans were shared with residents at a meeting, with PP O’Connor saying associated evacuations and road closures will be in place from 7am on the day.
It said extensive work is also being carried out “to ensure the highest safety standards are upheld”, with hazardous materials already removed in preparation for the blowdown.
PP O’Connor will also monitor weather conditions and carry out full pre-checks and safety checks on the day.
Following the blow-down, a series of safety checks will take place ensuring all of the explosives are blown.
The concrete piles will be inspected and the roads will be cleaned and confirmed safe by the PP O’Connor team.
Meanwhile, demolition debris will be processed and recycled on site for future development.
Daniel Mackinlay, demolition manager at PP O’Connor, said: “As a business, communication is key when working on any project.
“With the planned blow-down at this site, we have ensured we have maintained regular communication across the community to allow them to air any questions or viewpoints in advance.
“Our plan is to reduce any impact on the local community and maintain ongoing process.”
Plans for the process were submitted by developers Peel NRE to Warrington Borough Council in September, outlining the process of how the site will be demolished.
The information, including a demolition statement and plan for control
dialogue
throughout
the of the site and safety in the local area, were approved.
PP O’ Connor was appointed by Peel NRE following a competitive tender process. It was chosen because of its previous experience in complex demolitions such as Ineos in Runcorn, LyondellBasell in Carrington and Stanlow Refinery in Ellesmere Port.