Another icon of Longbridge history fell today as a landmark silver chimney was toppled by demolition workers at the remains of the former MG Rover car plant (Tuesday 8th December).
The 51 metre high chimney was part of a new gas turbine powered energy system installed at the plant in 1995. The Allison turbine which drove the 3.5 megawatt generator to provide 10% of the site’s power was the same used as a Hercules aircraft engine.
The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) installation reduced the site’s carbon dioxide emissions by 70% alongside energy cost savings of around £1 million per year.
Site historian Tony Osborne was Site Operations Manager at the time of it’s construction and, along with his colleagues, was immensely proud of the achievement.
He said: “The whole team were proud of the project as it was delivered ahead of time and below budget. The technicians running the place kept it so clean that you could have eaten your dinner off the floor.
“The photograph [below] was taken on 31st May 2005, after the station had been shut down, but it still looked good.”
