power station power station refers cancelled coal fired power station miles north east planned realised scheme faced stiff opposition claimed views historic number people supported scheme help meet increasing demand electricity provide needed jobs post depression post war economy britain station designed architect operational late 1940s generated electricity following public inquiry plans approved instead installed new capacity existing power stations background years preliminary planning surveying sites drawing plans bought site large rifle range sides miles north east city durham early publicly announced plans build large coal fired power station site station post war plan scheme projected cost site chosen mid durham area close coal supplies needed short distance downstream durham solid foundations workings county durham restricted number possible sites meet requirement solid foundations site required good road rail access estimated build time station years completed station expected employ people june formally submitted plans consent construction design station site plans elevations designed previously designed london designs station considered high architectural quality claimed design station considered credit district main station building feet height station burned tonnes low grade coal week produce electricity coal taken mines county durham transported station durham goods branch railway terminated nearby new required reach site railway line required cutting arriving station coal discharged wagons feet station transported belt arches station coal burnt estimated ash content cost company install remove dust smoke waste gases leaving feet high chimneys view time remaining dust leave chimney caused pollution waste gases consisting carbon dioxide thought cause injury harm inhabitants city buildings vegetation tonnes ash produced station week intended sell local construction companies construction material believed ready market fly ash built claimed spread land west station mixed soil produce feet high tip station featured feet high cooling towers said provision prevent excessive amounts steam leaving cooling towers coming towers days year criticism support plans announced county surveyor raised objections october onwards began increasingly warn opposition bound arise scheme plans strongly opposed urban durham thought station city skyline opposed city durham trust founded years earlier time station given ahead planning authority trust believed station tall chimneys cooling towers dwarf nearby argued thought power station enhance city attractions people coming power station tried assure public built station little away city possible official statement company stated kind employed connection construction rest assured precaution taken design working station cause little harm possible amenities city argued chosen site protect city amenities outside city boundary partially surrounded higher ground lee prevailing winds said fit station surroundings local trade unions farmers union support scheme number private persons general reason bring new form employment city surrounding areas opponents station claimed new jobs power station specialist technicians brought region positioning station near durham beneficial city electricity supply cost electricity cheaper living near station critics claimed region new power station built coal despite claims suitable sites critics claimed durham functioning cultural educational administrative tourist centre ultimately destroyed heavy meeting july chairman spoke favour proposals claiming fulfill government policy rehabilitation depressed areas outbreak war north country fully recovered great depression 1930s foster believed employment station construction maintenance provided help prevent return conditions seen station generally improve supply electricity industry pointed criticism scheme based entirely assumption station destroy medieval charm city taking account thoughts experts designed station pointed critics comments suggestion alternative campaign scheme attracted publicity bbc broadcast foster claimed feasible site found avoid violation view warned interest county economy concerns ill informed critics view durham railway passing fortunate district durham later referred development vital british architect published comparison alongside power station typical design time like planned clear cathedral largest country looked small projected power station argued long structures viewed simultaneously visual detrimental cathedral somewhat ironically later voted worst britain geographically located mile north east feet lower thought power station dominate view entered enter views city reader summarised ideas traveller train approaches durham north meet eye foreground vast power station local beauty spot picturesque remains building historic interest mass concrete buildings ill landscape inquiry suggestion head conduct joint local hearing chaired outsider turned government greater means needed government agreed public inquiry opened public inquiry plans opened december hearing lasting days appointed chairman inquiry electricity commissioners appointed key opponents scheme city durham preservation society chaired represented representatives argued company supplied region great deal generating capacity need built meet demand years come mid durham area best place erect new station henderson claimed real opposition scheme interfere amenities durham chief engineer backed scheme declined consent new arrangements new plant operation kilograms model station city surroundings inquiry accompanied certificate issued photographs city shown power station superimposed hearing pointed letter published times july bishop dean durham warden durham colleges given misleading impression proposed station ruin views railway line idea compounded publication days later photograph taken proposed site acknowledged number views parts river ruined station visible cathedral church emphasised majority beautiful views city remain found railway station power station cathedral viewed simultaneously members inquiry initially concluded station given ahead based grounds suitable site decided argued europe finest monuments destroyed second world war durham cathedral gem survived war industrial laid waste rest county supported view durham suited administrative shopping tourist centre large scale industrial development legal political difficulties caused long delay reaching decision important issue inquiry subject new town country planning act beginning challenged right minister town planning inquiry initial legal advice government subject inquiry convened terms reference consider proposed new extended station supply sufficient electricity meet needs consumers greater cost alternative source supply view inquiry refuse consent conditions met later decision inquiry fact subject act effect decision making persisted terms reference approved power station withheld planning consent grounds objections entitled compensation losses delay building new site liable question able afford large involved government wished avoid stepping pay inquiry persuaded find compensation came pressure ministers argued denying compensation entitled april decision station delayed chairman time voiced anger times secretary wrote asking bring inquiry decision eventually forward ministerial meeting solution members inquiry inform purely technical grounds approved scheme opposition morrison decided proceed decision initially hostile june agreed drop scheme condition received letter morrison agreeing satisfied commissioners technical grounds government thought site open founded objections scheme proceeded past inquiry stage refused consent outcome ultimately decision inquiry went support station company dropped plans received payment expenditure incurred point site inherited eventually sold october minister town country planning lewis clear house_of_commons begun extending existing power stations installing additional generating plant sites demand electricity meaning station needed
Kepier power station