THE ESB is proceeding today with the demolition of a large cooling tower at its former peat generating station at Portarlington in the midlands. The tower was due to be demolished last month but the "blowdown" was postponed after public concerns were voiced about its likely impact on quantities of potentially toxic asbestos stored in the vicinity.
The ESB has considered the concerns raised at a public meeting, bin the town, a company spokesman confirmed. These were replied to in detail at a further meeting this week. They centred on asbestos removed from the station building which is being stored under appropriate conditions, dictated by international regulations, he added.
It was feared that the demolition could threaten people in the area by disturbing the stored asbestos, but the ESB did not accept that this was likely or that it posed a threat to public health. In any event, the ESB was prepared to move the asbestos further away from the vicinity of the tower "to meet local concerns even though, there was no danger from the demolition".
The asbestos, which is used as a heat insulating material and to fireproof fabrics, is being stored in double plastic bags within welded shut steel containers which are waterproof, he said.
The blowdown will be carried out with a small quantity of explosive this morning. British contractors, Robinson and Birdsell of Leeds, which has demolished 104 large towers, will oversee the demolition.
"There will be absolutely no danger and no asbestos will be in the dust from the demolition," the ESB spokesman said.
A temporary exclusion area, nonetheless, will apply and some local residents will have to evacuate their homes. A special viewing area is being provided for those who wish to see the demise of the 50 year old tower which is 236 feet high and 175 feet wide at its base. It is made of reinforced concrete.
