12 August 2008 10:06
August demolition date set for Tinsley cooling towers

E.ON has today announced it will bring down the redundant Tinsley cooling towers this August Bank Holiday weekend.

The 250ft towers will be demolished in a controlled explosion in the early hours of Sunday 24th August.

Because of the need to close the M1 motorway, the timings were decided following extensive consultation with the Highways Agency, Police and other local agencies to try to minimise disruption to locals and road users.  

And to mark the event the company is sponsoring fundraising initiatives to benefit local charities - a souvenir book and postcard set charting the history of the towers.

Plans for a viewing platform at Meadowhall and a text raffle to win the chance to start the demolition countdown will be announced shortly.

Derek Parkin, Managing Director of Business Services at E.ON, said: "Our priority has always been to make sure this demolition is carried out safely and with as little disruption as possible, which is why we've opted for the early hours of the morning."

To mark their demolition, E.ON is funding a souvenir book of the life of the station, produced by the University of Sheffield's Archaeology consultancy, Arcus, and a collection of postcards based on historical images of the site.

Funds raised from the sale of these will be donated to The Rotherham Hospice and Neurocare at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Lesley Eland, Neurocare's fundraising director, said: "We're delighted to have been invited to benefit from this unique opportunity.

"The Tinsley Towers have been a longstanding landmark for the city and, while many people will be sad to see them go, the money raised will hopefully leave a long lasting impression on the people of Sheffield, helping to improve the lives of patients with a range of debilitating illnesses for many years to come."

Gill Shaw, chief officer at Rotherham Hospice, added: "Every year Rotherham Hospice needs to raise more than £1.8m to help cover its day-to-day operational costs. The Tinsley Towers are a well known local landmark and it's great that the proceeds of the book will be used to help support our work."

The M1 motorway will be closed between junctions 32 and 35 from midnight on Saturday evening and for most of Bank Holiday Sunday. The A631 Tinsley viaduct lower deck between the Tinsley and Meadowhall roundabouts will also be closed.

Arthur Ashburner, Divisional Director at the Highways Agency, said: "We have agreed that the best time to close the motorway to allow the demolition to take place will be in the early hours of Bank Holiday Sunday when traffic levels are at their lowest.

"Clearly-signed diversions will be in place along the M18 and M62 together with local diversion routes, in order to limit any delays to road-users, but we advise drivers to allow extra time for their journeys.

"Up to date traffic information on the closure will be available via roadside electronic message signs, the Highways Agency's website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/, by tuning in to the Highways Agency's Traffic Radio available on DAB digital and online at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk/, and by listening to local radio stations.

"Our primary concern is for the safety of road-users. Over the past 30 years, since the main Blackburn Meadows Power Station was demolished, the Agency has carried out extensive strengthening works on the adjacent M1 Tinsley Viaduct. We are now content that the demolition of the remaining towers, as planned, poses a very low risk of damage to this important structure.

"Nevertheless, a rigorous programme of inspection and testing will ensure that reopening of the motorway will only take place when we are entirely satisfied that is it safe to do so."

Ends

Notes to editors:

Tinsley cooling towers

The Blackburn Meadows Power Station was built between 1937 and 1942. The Tinsley Towers are two of seven cooling towers that once stood on the site.

New biomass power station

Earlier this year, Sheffield City Council gave E.ON planning permission to develop a biomass power station at Blackburn Meadows, which would produce enough renewable energy to serve the needs of around 40,000 homes.

For more information contact:

Andrew Barrow at E.ON on 024 7618 3677

For press enquiries about the road closures, please contact the Highways Agency's press officers at COI News and PR, Yorkshire and the Humber, on 0113 341 3180/1. Out-of-hours media can contact the Duty Press Officer via the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443