To say I'm disappointed to have lost this battle with English Heritage and E.On would be an understatement.

English Heritage still fails to recognise the value of our industrial heritage. It seems to have no problem recognising the history of the rural rich; it still fails to recognise those aspects of our history which transformed the lives of ordinary working people in our cities.
These were the oldest surviving parabolic cooling towers in the UK, some of the few remaining artefacts of that period of municipal enterprise, when local councils took the lead in developing and delivering utilities electricity, gas, water and sewerage, which transformed the nature of our cities. That investment transformed health, housing, transport and industry in the city.

I have no doubt that, if English Heritage had shown more interest in this aspect of our heritage, E.On would have found the means and creativity to preserve the towers.

But these particular towers had far more than just historic industrial value. I know that for thousands of Sheffield people who travel along the M1, the sight of the Tinsley cooling towers always meant 'We're home at last'.

In fact for millions of people, arriving at the Tinsley cooling towers has meant 'Thank goodness, we're back in the north'. Southerners have always had ridiculous arguments about whether the north began at Watford or Watford Gap. To those in the know, the north has always started at Tinsley. With the towers gone, there is an urgent need to find a replacement for their massive symbolism.

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