TWENTY weeks of demolition works at the old coal store site at Cockenzie are set to get under way on Monday.
The concrete demolition is part of the broader enabling works project at the site of the former Cockenzie Power Station.
East Lothian Council has warned residents of potential noise disruptions, but has stressed that strict time limits and mitigations are in place to avoid early-morning starts.
Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Council spokesperson for economic development, said: "It is a real achievement that this huge project to prepare the site for future employment use is running on schedule and we appreciate the understanding and patience of the local community.
"It’s been really interesting to see these structures emerge that have been hidden from view for a number of years, revealing a huge part of East Lothian’s industrial history."
The demolition will see the removal of three main structures at the old coal store site: the former rail bridge, the supporting concrete wall where the wagon discharge building sat, and the coal conveyor structures that were buried within the north-eastern bund.
The demolition of these structures will be carried out by Rhodar, subcontracted to Balfour Beatty, which manages the enabling works.
The work will start at the south of the site, moving northwards.
From August, the structures furthest north will be demolished, which may cause noticeable noise for Alder Road residents.
Although work is permitted on site from 7am, it has been agreed with the contractor that no demolition machinery will start until 8am to reduce noise impact.
The latest finish time is 6pm and there will be no planned weekend working.
Daily dust and noise monitoring will be carried out, with regular dampening down to minimise dust spread.
No roadworks or traffic management is necessary for the demolition.
The entire project, scheduled for completion in December, will include the construction of a link road connecting the Alder Road junction on the B6371 approach to Cockenzie with the existing B1348 road.
Much of the route will follow an existing service road to the former coal plant and be complemented by a lane, largely set back from the main roadway, to encourage safe walking and cycling.
Utilities diversions have already started at the Alder Road roundabout.
The Cockenzie enabling works are part of an initiative to prepare the brownfield site for future economic development.
The first phase, which started last September and was completed a month ahead of schedule in March, involved transferring 175,000 cubic metres of earth from the bunds surrounding the former coal store across Edinburgh Road to infill the void in the power station site.
Phase two includes the construction of the new link road, while the concrete demolition works about to start form phase three.
The enabling works are 90 per cent funded by the UK Government and 10 per cent by East Lothian Council, with the link road 100 per cent funded by the council.
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