Horton water tower to finally be demolished
Demolition contractors have finally been given the go-ahead to start taking down a 12-storey derelict water tower in Surrey, to the relief of people living in its shadow.
The Horton water tower in Epsom had been due to be demolished earlier this year, only for a last-minute hold to be put on the process due to a change in planning law. Epsom and Ewell Council have now given the final permission, however, and its owners, London and Quadrant Housing Association (L&Q), are looking to get a demolition crew to work as soon as possible.
Residents in the Livingstone development that has been built at its base are delighted that its days are now definitely numbered.
One of residents, Kate Battrick, said, "It was a necessary decision and we can't wait."
"There will be no more pigeons and we will have more daylight in the winter because it cut off the sun at different parts of the day and we won’t have people trying to climb up there," she added.
Ms Battrick said it was confounding that the tower hadn't just been torn down when the development was built, as it has only been a great white elephant since then, and been getting gradually more dangerous. Earlier this year a 5-year-old girl was injured after broken glass fell from the building and into her garden.
