Plans to knock down the three cooling towers and tall chimney at the derelict Richborough Power Station have been greeted with enthusiasm by Sandwich Town Council.

Three former Sandwich Mayors aired their views when councillors agreed the proposals should go-ahead.

Cllr Simon Leith described the former power station, which closed in 1996, as a hideous edifice on the Wantsum valley and said he positively supported its demolition.

Agreement came from Cllr John Bragg who said the buildings had been an eyesore since they were built in the late 1950s to burn Kent coal.

He added: "I have been in communication with the people who made the planning application and they are already to go with the demolition.

The place is wired up and waiting for the plans to be approved."

The power station opened in 1962 and burned coal for nine years before it was converted to burn oil. In 1989 it was converted again to use the experimental and controversial Orimulsion.

* For more details about the demolition plans go tohttp://www.dover.gov.uk/ and link onto planning to search for 11/00807.