REPRESENTATIVES from Tarmac gave an update on the demolition of the former Westbury cement works at a public consultation on March 17.

It was announced at the end of last year that the site is to be demolished, including the 122-metre chimney.

Tarmac’s Senior Estates Manager Jonathan Toyn, and PR consultant Daniel Daniels, answered questions from members of the public at The Laverton, the most common being when the chimney will come down and what the site will be used for following demolition.

Mr Toyn said: “Demolition work has begun but there isn’t a set date for the demolition of the chimney yet. We’re expecting it to be late May, probably at the weekend, between 6am and 8am.

“We are currently having discussions with several occupiers of an industrial nature, but there is nothing official yet. I can assure people that there is nothing to be alarmed about.”

Tarmac will demolish all buildings that no longer have an operational use, which will take up to six months, while the existing distribution operations will remain in use.

Cllr Gordon King said: “There is a bit of concern about an urban sprawl being created after the site is sold to a new developer.

“The population of Westbury has grown by 24 per cent over the past decade, so more housing really wouldn’t be welcomed.

“This is an exciting time for Westbury as the site would be ideal for a country park or something along those lines.”

The risk of pollution that could arise from the demolition was a concern expressed by several people, including Anne Dunderdale, 62, of Leighton Green in Westbury.

She said: “I will be glad to see the back of the chimney because it’s a bit of an eyesore, but I want it to be brought down carefully, block by block, to avoid the potential omission of dioxins that may be in its lining.

“I would love the site be used for a country park with log cabins and recreational activities for people to take part in, it needs to blend in with the natural landscape.”

But, for some, the demolition of the cement works will be a sad occasion, marking the end of an era.

Tony Hannaford, 81, of Eden Vale in Westbury, said: “I worked at the factory for 20 years as a fitter, doing a number of maintenance jobs, so I am a little bit sad that it’s going to be demolished.

“I spent an awful lot of time repairing and replacing equipment in that building, and now it’s all going to be destroyed. It will be sad, but I am going to go along and watch the chimney come down.”