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Rugeley Power station cooling towers demolition date confirmed

Rugeley Power Station's four cooling towers will be demolished next weekend, it has been confirmed.

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The Rugeley Power Station cooling towers seen from Thorn Close

The controlled collapse demolition event using explosives will take place at around 11am on Sunday, June 6.

The now disused power station is being demolished t

To protect everyone onsite and in the local area, an exclusion zone will be in place before, during and immediately after the collapse.

And due to the height of the structures – around 117 metres high – the exclusion zone will extend onto the A51 so a road closure, with clearly marked diversions, will be in place for the event. It has been planned with the local authorities to minimise potential disruption.

The initiation and collapse may be heard off-site – but bosses say any noise will be over very quickly and any dust will be controlled. Road sweepers will be available, however, it is anticipated these won’t be required.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no public viewing area. A livestream will be made available so members of the public can safely view the event – details will be made available on the Rugeley Power website over the coming days.

The police will be in attendance and have asked that people consider the latest Covid-19 restrictions as these will be enforced.

There will be one more, smaller scale explosive demolition event before completion of the demolition programme later in the year.

Last month, site owner ENGIE was granted outline planning permission from the local authorities to transform the Rugeley Power Station site once demolition is complete, into a sustainable mixed-use development of 2,300 low carbon homes including employment space, parkland, and a new all-through school.