Page 267 - Beyond Decommissioning

248 Beyond Decommissioning

But the main reasons to preserve a cooling tower are historic and cultural. They are
a symbol of our past. It is unfortunate that most cooling towers are being demolished.
Demolition of Chapelcross NPP in the UK is described in Magnox (2007).
A number of environmentalists are active in trying to save cooling towers. One
example is given in ADP (2014). A proposal to save the cooling towers at Didcot Power
Station, UK from demolition is quoted below in detail. The “Didcot Towers Leisure
Park” proposal includes converting three of the cooling towers: it aims at attracting vis-
itors from the whole region and providing high-quality facilities for local communities.
“The new ‘Didcot Towers Leisure Park’ proposal includes converting three of the
existing towers. The first tower will be converted into a water park experience with
some of the highest flumes in the world weaving in and out of the towers. Swimmers
will take the external lift up the 99 m to the top of the tower and walk over a glass bridge
(not for the faint-hearted!) and into the glass dome covering. When their turn comes to
‘take the plunge’ they will hurtle down from inside the tower out into the daylight as if
soaring above Oxfordshire like one of the local Red Kites, before entering the tower
once again and plummeting into the darkness. There will be three ‘levels’ of flume,
as those who dare progress from a gentler journey to the bottom through to the high
velocity thrill that the fastest flume will offer. For those more inclined to relax with
an awe inspiring view, the proposal includes a larger than Olympic sized swimming
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pool installed at the top of the tower, 80 m in diameter and containing 3000 m of water.
The first tower to be converted will have a large multiplex cinema installed, making
best use of the natural darkness within. Screens will effectively be installed up through
the tower, with floors retrofitted and lifts installed for moving large amounts of people
up through the tower. The multiplex will be a timely addition to Didcot with the
planned expansion of the town proceeding at a steady pace.
The final tower will be converted into the world’s largest man-made climbing facil-
ity. Inside the tower will be ‘starter walls’ to provide training for beginners, while the
exterior will offer a class-leading opportunity for experienced climbers to scale the
tower using different routes, from intermediate to difficult. There will also be
abseiling from the top viewing platform, with users able to descend the near 100 m
drop to the ground below. This low cost addition will enable the new leisure park
to be economically viable, with the facilities expected to attract climbers from all over
the world to test themselves on this unique wall.
Underneath the power station there is an existing web of engineering plant that will
become a large underground car park, with efficient access to and from the near
motorway. The landscaping around the towers will be developed to create a parkland,
increasing biodiversity and providing added value for visitors wishing simply to enjoy
a walk, observe nature, or have a picnic.”

6.6.6 Air traffic control towers

The case of Denver Stapleton airport, CO, USA is possible unique by this time. During
the 1980s, this airport was thriving with four US airlines, six runways, and five ter-
minals. But in 1995, the airport was closed and all buildings were demolished—except
the 12-story control tower, which however fell into a 20-year disrepair. Denver grad-
ually expanded, so creating the conditions for a tower reuse. Quite recently a