Conservation could block Caldon Canal

THE OLD 300ft chimney at the derelict Bolton's Copper Works is in danger of falling into the Caldon Canal and on to the Churnet Valley Railway, so a conservation order was slapped on it last week so it can't be demolished!

The eyesore was due to be demolished as it was dangerous, and to save it falling and damaging both the canal and railway, but last week, Staffordshire Moorlands Council added the chimney to the conservation of the Bolton's Copper Works meaning it cannot be demolished, Richard Hall tells us.

Started demolition

But a demolition company had already started demolition before the order, so the brick stack at the base is already weakened. Trains will be unable to pass the chimney in its weakened state.

The council has also had talks with British Waterways, with a spokesman for the council explaining:

"A site inspection by our building control team has established that the chimney is potentially unstable and could fall if exposed to strong winds at a critical level that it has not yet been possible to determine.