Today (Friday) is likely to be the final day of power generation from the Didcot A coal fired Power Station. The picture of the cooling towers was taken at the weekend from the fields above the Tithe Farm estate in Abingdon. When we first moved to Abingdon we were warned that soot from Didcot would dirty our washing but can’t remember it ever being a problem.
Such cooling towers became common in the UK from the 1950s, and are rapidly disappearing from the landscape as one set after another are demolished.
There are also a couple of close up pictures on the Not Abingdon Blog.
How will I know I nearing Abingdon unless I can see the Didcot cooling towers coming across the horizon. :'(
Cheer up K they may be replaced with Nuclear cooling towers in the near future!
I agree with K, how will we know when we’re nearly home?? We have a secret hope that they pop some wind turbines in the top and make them look like flower pots!
Will be an event when they do drop them, Oxford Mail could run a competition to push the button.
I had seen plans to put some sort of greenhouse on top as a visitor centre……but wind turbines poking out. Mmmm
Larkmead School did a really good piece on this for BBC School Report yesterday. The interviewed a press office for NPower
http://www.larkmead-school.com/bbc-school-report-2013/
I was also hoping to see them come down in a big blast but they have said the intend to take them down brick by brick
I always know that I am nearly home when I see the cooling towers. This landmark will be missed.
This generates millions in revenue for the local councils how will they get that back wait and see .
isnt there still the other part with towers on view?
Once campaigned against these. Will now be sorry to see them go. But no more smow in Didcot.
Many years ago I took my daughter to the nature reseve there and were told that Peregrine falcons could be seen on the towers- they said pointing to a dot at the top. Do/did they nest on the towers?
Whatever your thoughts when they went up, they have become iconic.
With dwelling rates, the councils could still get a steady income – which adventurous architect/developer is going to punch holes in the sides and turn them into flats ? The penthouse would probably be quite expensive !
On the navigation side – there will be a lot more light aircraft “temporarily uncertain of position” (lost) in the area when the towers go.
For us, not only have they been a sign that we are nearing home, but historically they are part of a family Tradition of games of “I Spy” with the kids.
on a different subject i have walked passed the new shops in Abingdon today and they still have nobody in them . We was supposed to have major retailers in there during Christmas it is now almost April and still nothing COME ON .
You again Moody Man? Nothing happy to say today?
When I used to live in Oxford my sign of being nearly home was the floodlit outdoor pitches at Tilsley Park.
I think the tallest tower with the red lights on will still stay, won’t it? That’s the one you can see from far far away so hopefully the navigation won’t be too off!
Oh no…. Moody man’s right! Pubs closing, shops closing…even the power stations are closing! Run for the hills, run for the hills!!!
I suspect eventually Didcot A will be replaced with a nuclear energy plant. EDF expected to get go ahead for one in Somerset very soon. It wouldn’t surprise me if in 20 years we have one on our doorstep.
Nuclear power stations are always built on the coast due to the huge amount of water needed for cooling so Didcot would never be a contender for such a plant.
“How will I know I am nearing home”
Use a sign like every bloody body else!
Why do you need enormous, hideous, prefabricated cooling towers to show you’re home?!
I will certainly miss seeing the towers as I come back into Abingdon. Having said that, I think its great that we are reducing our reliance on such power stations. Its just a pity that the replacements are likely to be nuclear or oil rather than renewable.
Weep not for the cooling towers, those in need of an ugly sight on the Didcot horizon need look no further afield than the ticky tacky little boxes on the hill of Great Western Park…
can anyone tell me when there coming down im thinking of bying one of the new homes bye them many thanks