Chimneys are going, going, gone! (From Daily Echo)

BAT chimneys disappear from Shirley skyline

7:40am Monday 20th April 2009 in News By Echo Reporter

IT was an iconic landmark in Southampton that stood tall over the city for more than 80 years.

The giant chimney bursting into the skyline from the British American Tobacco factory was one of the most prominent features of the city’s industrial landscape.

But over the weekend demolition crews removed the 100ft chimney along with two others added to the Regent’s Park site in the 1970s as cigarette production expanded. The chimneys were cut into sections before being craned down.

The work is the latest in the development of the plant, which ceased cigarette manufacture in 2007.

Project manager Steve Hemsley said: “The chimneys are coming down because we have stopped production at the factory and they are no longer needed. The chimneys were quite iconic for the city, they were easily spotted from aeroplanes flying into Southampton and they are even used as a landmark from their air.

“Despite that they are not used any more so they need to come down.

“Their removal marks a significant milestone for us as we continue developing our facilities here for the future.”