Setback for ambitious art project

Plans to turn Tinsley Cooling towers into a giant piece of public art may not go ahead after it was revealed the site is earmarked for demolition.

The site was one of six in the UK selected to be part of a £2m national art programme for Channel 4.

But owner Eon, the company which runs Powergen, says it plans to knock the towers down.

Spokesman Jonathan Smith said the towers had reached the end of their useful life and had to be demolished.

Mr Smith said the company had worked closely with the Highways Agency which was not happy with plans to put anything on the tower.

The cooling towers were selected for the Big Art Project by a panel of six experts, who chose from a shortlist of 12 sites nominated by more than 1,400 people.