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The plans for the demolition of the 55m high chimney at the former Lancaster Power Station will see an exclusion zone put in place around the base of the structure in Port Royale Way.

The site is owned and occupied by A1 Supa Skips Ltd, the parent company of Quay Concrete, Think Pink Skips and Envirofirst.

The original power station was built in 1949 and supplied power and process steam to Williamson's lino factory.

The chimney on the Lune Industrial Estate. Image courtesy of Google Instant Streetview.

Marsh Ward City Coun Gina Dowding said: "Only very short notice was given to the City Council due to the planning process called ‘prior approval application’.

"I know some people will be very sad to see the loss of this landmark, heritage building.

"Council officers told us there was little likelihood of successfully getting the chimney listed and therefore protected.”

The application outlines the process of the demolition works: "Utilising the steeplejack access equipment and scaffolding already in position, carry out the following works.

The chimney from Port Royale Way. Image courtesy of Google Instant Streetview.

"Form a hole in the base of the chimney through which all demolition rubble can be retrieved.

"Carefully dismantle the mobile phone antennas and cabling etc. lower to ground level under control and leave on site for the clients disposal.

"Carefully dismantle the termination point castings and deposit down the inside of the chimney.

"Carefully demolish, piecemeal, the concrete blockwork section in the top 5m of the chimney, depositing all rubble down the inside of the stack.

Coun Gina Dowding at the top of Wharfedale Road with the chimney in the background.

"All rubble would be cleared out of the base of the chimney and loaded into waiting skips provided by the client for their disposal.

"The multi-lift scaffolding would be dismantled as the demolition proceeds.

"Carefully demolish, piecemeal, the chimney brickwork, depositing all rubble down the inside of the stack.

"All rubble would be cleared out of the base of the chimney and loaded into waiting skips provided by the client for their disposal.

"The scaffolding would be lowered in conjunction with the demolition.

"The chimney would be demolished in a piecemeal fashion to a sufficient height at which a high reach machine can be mobilised to carry out the remainder of the demolition.

"On completion of the piecemeal demolition works, dismantle all scaffolding, steeplejack ladders and access equipment from the chimney.

"Mobilise to site a high reach demolition machine and demolish the remaining height of the chimney to ground level.

"All rubble would be loaded into waiting skips provided by the client for their disposal.

"On completion of all work the site would be left in a clean and tidy manner to the satisfaction of all concerned."

Plans submitted for demolition of 'landmark' 55m chimney at former Lancaster power station