HISTORIC grain silos in the heart of Andover are being demolished as part of a plan to redevelop the site into a distribution hub.
Andover-based Switch Logistics is halfway through the demolition of the iconic silos off of Weyhill Road after the company received planning permission last year.
The demolition works started in November and are expected to be completed before Christmas.
The 20m-high structures that dominate views of the area have been part of people who live nearby, especially the residents of The Crescent.
The demolition has evoked mixed emotions among residents as they complained about Switch not providing a notice about the demolition works, although they are happy to see the towers go down.
READ MORE: Andover Weyhill Road grain silos set for demolition
Karen Taylor, one of the Crescent residents who has a good view of the dismantling job, said she can see “the enormous crane with a dinosaur claw biting and bashing through the reinforced concrete”.
She added: “Switch Logistics didn’t even let us know it was coming down. Houses were shaking and babies were woken and this company didn’t have the common decency to let the residents know what was coming our way.
“And we’re not just talking about the noise – they started up this morning at 7am (Monday, December 5), it’s also all the dust that’s coming into our houses. The silo was huge and ugly and blocked the light, but at least it was benign. I dread what’s going to replace it, with dirty rumbling lorries moving day and night.
“The huge crane has now been joined by several smaller diggers working at ground level to clear up the spoil.”
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Another Crescent resident Jazz said the company sent a notice after they submitted an application, but not before the demolition works started.
“I was annoyed that they hadn’t asked. But to be honest, the noise is not that bad considering they are demolishing the whole building. But I don’t have little kids and it doesn’t affect me really,” she said.
“After Switch bought the land they put a new building up which was more noisy than these demolitions.
“I didn’t mind the buildings being there. But it’s probably going to benefit the residents that the towers are going now. They have taken down a lot in just a few weeks and I think they will finish up quickly. I would have more annoyed if they took six months to bring it down.”
Switch Logistics is a distribution company established in Andover in the early 1970s. It was later purchased by TWT Logistics Group from South Wales.
The Advertiser contacted both Switch and TWT for a comment, but they have not responded at the time of writing this report.
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