Over the past few weeks, residents in the eastern part of the town can't have failed to miss the disappearing Broomgrove chimneys!
An extensive and thorough decontamination operation removed the immediate danger, but the twisted bulk of the power station remained.
After the Channel Island-based owners failed to take action, Hastings Borough Council negotiated to buy the wreck, with much of the cost of clearing the site being met by SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency. Work started very soon on removing the main power station building, which remained unsafe, using the time-honoured ball and chain. This left just the two chimneys pointing skywards.
Initial plans to blow these up in one big bang (or, rather, two big bangs!) were thwarted by the National Grid, which runs cables almost underneath the chimneys. Spectacular though the big bangs might have been, leaving large areas of South East England without power might not have endeared us to residents!
Instead, the chimneys came down almost literally brick by brick, initially at least. A team of steeplejacks cut down the first 100 feet (30m), the remaining 100 feet then being disposed of by bringing back the ball and chain.
The chimneys are now completely gone, razed to the ground; all that remains of the power station are some concrete 'tanks'.
Because the land had been left virtually undisturbed for so long it has become a home for wildlife. Residents include protected species such as badgers, slow-worms, newts and lizards, and, by law, special care has to be taken with these. The Council has been working hard with English Nature to ensure that the law is fully complied with.
Regular readers of 'About' will know that, with the adjoining railway and land, there are nearly 20 acres of land to be developed. There will also be 'green' areas for people to enjoy.
More detailed plans will be drawn up over the next few months, and local residents will be fully consulted on these.
Already there is little left of the power station, soon even this will be just a memory - instead, Broomgrove will be home to one of the biggest regeneration projects in the town.
Back to top of page...
< Grotbusters keep up Eyesore Campaign | Change to Ward Boundaries >
This page last updated: 14/04/2002