WORK to demolish the 134ft brick chimney stack at Hamworthy’s former Crown Closures Factory has started.

Steeplejacks, using specialised equipment, are tackling the upper reaches of the old chimney, taking it down brick by brick before the structure is low enough to be demolished with heavier machinery.

Do you remember the twin chimneys of Poole’s power station?

Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes are building 104 new homes on the former factory site, which has sat derelict since 2015 when it closed with the loss of 120 jobs.

Initially there had been calls to preserve the factory site’s brick chimney, as testimony to Poole’s industrial past.

But that campaign, mooted in 2014, quickly stalled after some locals said the chimney had never endeared itself to the community.

Developers also said that any move to preserve the stack would have jeopardised housing on the site - which has been named Lakeside.

Speaking to the Daily Echo ahead of the demolition process, Lakeside sales director Michelle Storer said: “As a responsible housebuilder our contractors will be doing everything possible to minimise the noise and dust in the demolition process. People in the area will see steeplejacks bringing the stack down to a lower level before we use machines for the final work.

“The chimney demolition is a key milestone in creating the new development which will offer a range of two, three bedroomed and four bedroomed homes,” she added. The Crown Closures factory in Lake Road, Hamworthy, had gone under various names over the years including Wallis Tin, Metal Box, Carnaud Metal Box and Crown Food Europe.

At its height more than 1,200 workers were employed at the factory, which covered a 4.7 hectare area.

The brownfield site was recently identified as suitable for housing by the Borough of Poole in its proposed local plan.

This Poole Local Plan, which sets out Borough of Poole’s preferred sites for 14,200 new homes up until 2033, is set for further consultation this summer.

Meanwhile, Ms Storer said: “We know demand for homes in this area is high so we are delighted to be making good progress on the new development.

“The site has been identified as suitable for new homes and we look forward to creating this new community.”

Barratt Homes also wants to provide a 66-bed care home on the corner of Hoyal Road and Lake Road.