A FAMILIAR Stalybridge landmark left with a bang as it was finally brought down.
The coal conveyor had stood over the Millbrook area for decades after the Hartshead Power Station it supplied had closed.
But on Thursday, June 12 it was brought to the ground with a huge thud as contractors clear the area, which will be developed into housing and an ‘ecological enhancement area.’
Crowds gathered at the place with the best view, at Heyrod, to watch the moment the structure came down.
And at 11am, alarms were followed by a massive bang as the steel chute carried by concrete legs was demolished.
Just 30 minutes later, the entre thing had been toppled over and could not be seen in the landscape it once dominated.
The demolition is part of clearance work ahead of a £12.5 million development by Casey Group, which will see 162 properties placed at the location that has stood empty since the power station was demolished 36 years ago.
It will also see the ‘ecological enhancement area’ as well as new access roads, landscaping, pedestrian and cycle routes and public and private parking areas.
And representatives from Casey videoed the demolition after drones with heat sensors hovered above to make sure no animal or person was at risk.
It will take place over four sites, with the first seeing an ecology enhancement zone created, as a protected space with a focus on ecology/biodiversity through the enhancement and creation of different habitats.
According to documents, it ‘would not be ordinarily accessible to the public, but would be available occasionally, for school and educational trips, for example.’
The second would see footpaths, cycleways and picnic areas created, with existing ponds enhanced with planting areas.
The Printworks site, situated to the south of Spring Bank Lane and where the cooling towers stood, would be reclaimed and the wider area improved, with public access restricted.
While the most controversial, land off Crowswood Drive, would be redeveloped for the mix of two, three, four and five-bedroomed properties, described as the ‘enabling development for the remaining parts of the scheme.’
After Tameside Council granted planning permission in September, it was sent to the office of Secretary of State for Housing – Ashton-under-Lyne MP and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner – for ratification.
However, it was decided by officials on her behalf to not call the proposal in, with a letter stating; “The Secretary of State has carefully considered policy on calling in planning applications, as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement dated 26 October 2012.
@ggc_media Going… going… gone! Millbrook’s coal chute has been demolished after standing over the area for decades. Crowds gathered as a huge bang signalled the steel structure being brought to the ground #stalybridge #tameside #news ♬ There She Goes – CYRIL & MOONLGHT & The La’s
“The policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively.
“The Secretary of State has decided not to call in this application. She is content that it should be determined by the local planning authority.”
