THE tallest landmark on the Southport skyline is to be demolished over the next 10 months.

The infamous Crowland Street gasometer will gradually come down from November after standing strong for nearly 50 years, National Grid announced yesterday.

Two of the three gas towers will be dismantled by August next year, with a question mark remaining over the future of the smallest holder.

The news will come as a relief to High Park householders living in the shadow of the iconic structure, who report struggling to receive television reception and an impact on house prices.

But for many, the giant beacon has provided a reassuring first glimpse of home after months away .

Southport MP John Pugh commented: “It’s definitely a landmark but no-one ever said it was beautiful and unless anyone intends to paint a striking mural on it I guess it has outlived its usefulness.

“That said there will be a few disoriented motorists coming across the moss who will miss it.”

The largest of the three was decommissioned in January after an environmental risk posed by the storage of oil within it.

The demolition of the tower will make it easier for houses in the immediate area of the gasometer to sell, according to a leading local property expert.

The tower was recently voted one of the North West’s biggest eyesores in a competition run by the BBC.

Peter Nicholls of Nicholls and Barnes Estate Agents said: “The gas tower has always put buyers off to some extent. It’s not nice to open the curtains and see the gas tower and I imagine it’s not great living in the shadow of it, either.

“It’s difficult to say whether it will improve house prices in the area, especially in the current climate, but it will hopefully make properties more saleable at the current price.”

National Grid officials visited the gasometer this week to assess the logistics of the dismantling process.

A spokesman said: “National Grid is in the process of awarding a contract to carry out the demolition work on the larger holder.

“A small gas holder on the same site will need to be removed first to allow a specialist crane to be brought in to dismantle the larger holder.

“National Grid is also considering removing the third holder depending on the cost of the work.”

Doing my homework on this place and recceying it last week i Made the phone call to SoLo1 to see if he was up for it he replied "tomorrow definatly".
Tomorrow came and off we went... We set off on our way up the ladders which seemed to be never ending...


This shows the actual size of the tower we rroughly calculated it to be around the 200ft mark..


The never ending steps..Or what seemed to be..


Off the edge from the top..






This shows just how much of an over hang the stairs are on..


The upset neighbours residence..


Looking bown the painted walkway thats provided for you when you reach the top..


Not sure seems to be some type of hoist???



It was time to make our way back down as our fingers were at a numbing point...