Didcot Power Station - events and incidents, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Sunset for Didcot's iconic cooling towers

Three of the cooling towers will be demolished "Fred Dibnah" style early on Sunday morning (27th July).

According to GetReading, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are giving people the chance to watch from one of the carparks at Didcot Parkway.

First Great Western is offering free parking for anyone who wants to watch the demolition.

The train operator is allowing free parking at its Foxhall Road car park between midnight on Saturday and 7am on Sunday.

First Great Western Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: ^With three of the iconic cooling towers set to be blown down on Sunday morning, we recognise that many people will wish to view this event first hand.

^Those wishing to watch this great spectacle are welcome to use our car park.^

[ChrisB]

between 3 & 5am I understand.

[didcotdean]

Npower have been doing as much as possible to discourage people from observing this, starting by trying to keep the timing a secret.

[lordgoata]

Which is going to make more people turn out just to pee them off. They managed to blame everyone else though (NR^» (Network Rail - home page), OCC, Police, H&S^▸ (Health and Safety)).

I was planning on viewing, but I'm not hanging around for 2 hours! Did make me laugh, they said "we are making a live webfeed available" .. which is all well and good, but they still won't specify a bloody time to watch it!

[Super Guard]

Surely Npower have more problems to be worrying about than hiding these timings!

[ChrisB]

yes, people's safety

[TaplowGreen]

yes, people's safety

I agree, there is bound to be some cretin who will try to get too close..........if people really get off on watching a chimney fall down in the early hours of the morning I think they probably need help.

I have some experience of this type of incident as I helped officiate at a similar demolition some years ago, we took every possible precaution however some idiot had to get too close & hide away hoping to get a picture for his album and instead ended up in the cemetery in pretty horrific circumstances.

No matter what precautions you take this type of exercise is inherently very dangerous - it's not a spectator sport  and people should stay as far  away as possible if they really feel the need to watch.

[grahame]

yes, people's safety

I agree, there is bound to be some cretin who will try to get too close..........if people really get off on watching a chimney fall down in the early hours of the morning I think they probably need help.

There's always one ... this one's watching for the steam train that's due in 20 minutes, oblivious of the diesel train that's going the other way first.   Yes, I did get her out the way after taking the picture ...

[didcotdean]

There is a school of thought that if there was an organised viewing point, then it would lessen people's attempts to find their own.

I can contrast this with when Eon demolished High Marnham Power Station where there was a proper attempt made for a send off involving the local community that had put up with it on their doorstep for decades, rather than waking everyone up in the dead of night. Especially when NP are apparently inviting some people of their own to come and see it from outside the area.

Maybe they will rethink things when the other three cooling towers come down.

[ChrisB]

Doubt it. Usually, there's acres of empty space surrounding power stations, which isn't the case at Didcot....it'll be dark, pax really won't see very much. I assume it'll be filmed by night-vision cameras

[didcotdean]

It will only be dark because they have decided to do it at night (although the power station is lit at night). There was no need to do that - 6am has been a suggested time in various approaches to NP including by the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament).

The developer at Great Western Park had started to put together plans for people there but has been warned off. If there are that much safety issues, maybe they need to rethink how they are going about it.

Of course Didcot Power Station isn't even in Didcot!

[ChrisB]

It will only be dark because they have decided to do it at night (although the power station is lit at night). There was no need to do that - 6am has been a suggested time in various approaches to NP including by the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament).

The developer at Great Western Park had started to put together plans for people there but has been warned off. If there are that much safety issues, maybe they need to rethink how they are going about it.

They have, which is why they don't want people anywhere near it....

[didcotdean]

If they are really worried about people watching from their homes ending up in a dust cloud, I hope they have plans to come round and clear it all up afterwards.

Personally I am not bothered about seeing this demolition, but the amount of bad publicity it has generated is significant locally.

[Chris from Nailsea]

This is from First Great Western's own press release:

Free parking at Didcot station car park for historic blow down

First Great Western is delighted to announce that it will offer free parking for those wishing to watch the demolition of Didcot power station^s iconic cooling towers.

With the planned demolition set to go ahead this Sunday morning between 3am and 5am, the train operator is allowing free parking at its Foxhall Road car park between midnight on Saturday 27 July and 7am Sunday 28 July.

First Great Western Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: ^With three of the iconic cooling towers set to be ^blown down^ on Sunday morning, we recognise that many people will wish to view this event first hand. Those wishing to watch this great spectacle from Great Western Park are welcome to use our car park, just a short walk away from the safe viewing area.^

Two local organisations have realised their locations are likely to be popular during the demolition, so they^re arranging for people to view it safely from organised viewing areas.

Earth Trust, the charity that looks after Wittenham Clumps, anticipating a lot of people will look for a lofty, panoramic view of the power station, is opening its car park to visitors from midnight on Saturday 26 July to prevent people from parking on the narrow country lanes. 

Taylor Wimpey, the housing developer at Great Western Park in Didcot is also providing a viewing area.  This area is close to the exclusion zone and visitors are asked to note that it could be affected by dust and grit from the demolition. While there is no parking available, people wanting to view from Great Western Park must arrive on foot.

Fortunately First Great Western which manages Didcot station car park has offered its Foxhall Road car park free of charge. It^s a short walk from the car park to Great Western Park.

The demolition contractors are recommending that people stay inside and watch the blow down, which is being streamed live on the internet, from the warmth and safety of their homes. It^s clear though that many people view this as a historic occasion and intend to be there whatever the time.

There are safety issues to be considered if people do intend to go to Didcot and the district councils are asking people to plan their arrangements to take account of road closures and the likely direction of dust clouds.

Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils are offering this advice to residents:
^        Don^t try to get close to the towers - get too close and you will probably get covered in and end up breathing in, dust and grit ^ keep your distance.
^        It may be early in the morning but there are likely to be lots of people out on the roads ^ park legally and safely in proper car parks, not on the roadside
^        It will be dark ^ take a torch and wear bright clothing
^        If you are intending to travel to Didcot in a car, park in the main station car park off Foxhall Road, its free from midnight until 7.00am. If you use the car parks in front of the station you will have to pay
^        There will be road closures in place in the areas around the power station. The A4130 from Milton Interchange on the A34 right round to the northern entrance to Southmead business park will be closed from 03.00 to 06.00am, as will Milton Road between the railway and the power station site. Full details of the road closures can be found on the councils^ websites
^        If the two identified viewing areas have reached capacity you will have to go elsewhere. Arrive in good time and consider in advance where to go if your chosen viewing area is full
^        Remember that the cooling towers can be seen from miles away ^ it^s not necessary to try and get close to see the action
^        Above all, be sensible, don^t take risks and look after your friends and family

Cllr Matthew Barber, leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: ^This is a symbolic moment for residents in the Vale and indeed across the south-east of England ^ we want people to enjoy the occasion, but it^s really important that they do so safely and securely.^

Cllr Anna Badcock, deputy leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ^We^re really pleased Earth Trust have decided to open their car parks up to residents keen to get a good view of the power station from a good, safe distance.  As they^re a charity, we^ve provided some financial help towards safety arrangements and we ask those going to the Earth Trust to also make a donation^.

[Super Guard]

yes, people's safety

 

I was referring to the fact they can't even issue a bill properly...