Gas towers come down
Two unlikely Bath landmarks are in the process of being removed.
Work has started on dismantling two of three gas towers at Windsor Bridge.
The giant structures alongside the River Avon - often wrongly thought to be listed - are at the heart of the Western Riverside zone.
Work on taking down the columns surrounding the holders themselves began on Tuesday and is expected to take a month.
A third, smaller, tower will remain for the time because it is still being used.
The holders which once used to house the city's gas supplies will be removed once the supporting columns have been taken down piece by piece.
Development of the Western Riverside has been delayed by the economic downturn but Crest Nicholson is still planning to build more than 2,000 homes on the site.
In 2003, the gasworks site was named one of the biggest wastes of space in Britain by the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment.
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by Joanna Robinson, Bath
Friday, September 18 2009, 1:59PM
“Please, does anyone know who is responsible for taking them down? What they are made from, and what is happening to the metal? If they are constructed from iron this must be salvaged and reused to reinstate lost architectural ironwork in Bath.”
by Evelyn, UK
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 6:43PM
“It's really shocking that these are being removed in the way they are. The Kings X gasholders are being re-built.
And by the way, neither the Newark Works (Listed Grade II) nor the Bath Press buildings are derelict.
Empty isn't derelict.”
by rjs, Bath
Sunday, September 13 2009, 7:38AM
“Is this a case of 'Dismantle them before they get too rusty and fall down' and become a Health & Safety hazard to the Bath Chronicle Offices and staff'.”
by John, Bath
Tuesday, September 08 2009, 10:54AM
“I like them, though not enough to want to keep them. Every time I see them coming into view as I drive around (or look over) Bath, I imagine a nine-storey block of flats taking their place (to about the same height) and hope that it never happens.”
by Mat, Bath
Tuesday, September 08 2009, 9:34AM
“I can't believe that people are complaining about them going. Did the same people complain about the old southgate shopping centre going - it also was there for quite a while and formed part of the city. and what a part! I for once think it's time they disappear, I've never come around why there was a need to store gas overground in the UK, as in most other countries gas storages are compressed and underground - so get away with them and build something reasonable there. I don't know what to think about the western riverside project yet and would prefer to see a project similar to southgate, i.e. (mock) old architecture. but it clearly is better than having this site completely wasted, and I'm sure bath can do with more flats - but maybe half of you are greedy landlords who don't want to have more competition in the flat market in bath :P”