THE FORMER Huncoat Power Station will come to an explosive end this Monday when experts demolish its 350-foot chimney.

Weighing in at 5,900 tonnes, the chimney became redundant when the power station - then owned by the former Central Electricity Generating Board closed in the early eighties.

National Power has decided to go ahead with demolition even though litigation is pending over the legal ownership of the site.

The demolition contractor, Able UK, will create a 300-metre exclusion zone around the site.

Local police will be controlling access to some roads close to the site during the explosion.

A National Power spokesman said: "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience to local residents and motorists."

The power station's administration block was sold by the CEGB and will remain until the future of the site is sealed. If the courts find in favour of National Power, the company will consult with Hyndburn Council on the sale of the site and the promotion of any possible redevelopment.

But complications look set to continue as local action group, the Friends of Huncoat, is arguing that a 10-hectare green plot which was packaged together with the derelict power station site, should not be included in the council's development plans.

The group want the plot earmarked for leisure - as it was in the late '80s, when the £300 million Zeri theme park was on the cards.

Controversy still reigns over the future of the Huncoat Power Station site, even thought the tower will be demolished

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