Last Rochdale gasholder set to be dismantled by National Grid

Last Rochdale gasholder set to be dismantled by National Grid

Rochdale’s towering gasholder will soon begin to disappear from the town’s skyline as National Grid begins work in September.

The company will start removing the metal framework of the remaining structure at the site off Church Street.

The gasholder is the last of three to be dismantled in Rochdale. Two smaller gasholders were removed from the same site last year as part of national programme to bring back land into beneficial use.

The company has already removed the below-ground tank from the tall, lattice-like gasholder, and will now dismantle the frame piece by piece.

The gasholder was constructed in 1894 and rebuilt in 1959 to cope with increased post-war demand. The gasholders were used until February 2013, when new ways of storing gas in the transmission system led to the site being mothballed.

Samantha Rendell, Land Regeneration Manager at National Grid, said: “We’ve been working in Rochdale for some time now and this is the final chapter in clearing the site so it can be used again in the future. The largest and tallest structure will be coming down gradually over the next few months and our team is committed to being a considerate neighbour while dismantling the metal frame.

“We always aim to be part of the communities in which we work – and Rochdale is no different. We’ve been delighted to be able to make heritage donations to the local museum; create jobs for people living near the site; and help fund a vital language class for Pakistani women in Sparth. This will help create a lasting legacy in the local area, long after we’ve left the site.”

Residents can get in touch with National Grid’s Community Relations Team on Freephone 0808 168 7590 or by emailing nationalgrid@rochdalegasholders.com