Health and safety fears demolish plans to blow up Welwyn Garden City chimney

A LANDMARK feature of WGC's skyline which had been earmarked for demolition will no longer be blown up – because of health and safety fears. The chimney on the former Roche site in Broadwater Road, was set to be flattened by developers Taylor Wimpey, in o

A LANDMARK feature of WGC's skyline which had been earmarked for demolition will no longer be blown up - because of health and safety fears.

The chimney on the former Roche site in Broadwater Road, was set to be flattened by developers Taylor Wimpey, in order to create some 250 homes and a new public open space.

The WHT ran a competition in January to give one lucky reader the chance to 'push the plunger'.

But, sadly, health and safety red tape is now dictating the tower must be taken down brick by brick.

Competition winner Don Jones, of Sunningdale Mews, WGC, said: "I am disappointed because I told quite a few people that I was going to do it."

But the 53-year-old warehouse manager smiled: "I will get over it!"

Don will now be offered the choice of a �100 cheque or the equivalent in shopping vouchers by Taylor Wimpey.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "Our experts have revised their guidance to us, and are now advising against blowing up the chimney on health and safety grounds.

"While it is a shame that local residents won't have the opportunity to see the chimney come down in a more dramatic style, clearly health and safety has to be the main priority."

She added: "We expect work on the chimney to start in April, and it will be completed by the end of May.