TWO campaigners from Sheffield who fought to save the Tinsley cooling towers by having them transformed into a work of art have announced they are leaving the city.
Campaigners Tom Keeley and Tom James, who run community Fanzine Go! Sheffield, announced their decision at a public meeting to discuss the towers' future.
They have campaigned tirelessly for the structures to be decorated as an iconic piece of art
work.
But owners, energy firm E.ON, say they are unsound and are due for demolition later this year.
The meeting, organised by Sheffield Civic Trust, was held to thrash out options for the site.
Chaired by Radio Sheffield's Roney Robinson, speakers included MP Richard Caborn, Tom James on behalf of Go! and Sheffield Council's public art officer Andrew Skelton.
What do you think? Post your comments below.After an impassioned speech about Sheffield and the amazing opportunities available to the city, Tom, 25, announced their decision.
"We don't want to keep banging our heads against a brick wall. We love Sheffield but we're off to find cities where things actually happen instead of people just talking about it all the time," he said.
He added: "Icons are iconic because people take something to their heart. Everybody wants their own Angel of the North but it only works because the people of Newcastle have taken it into their hearts and made it their own."
He criticised MP Richard Caborn's idea for a huge steel football sculpture to mark the city's industrial heritage and the Sheffield FC as the world's first football club.
But Mr Caborn hit back saying: "In my opinion Sheffield is a city of great international heritage, an industrial city and a city of sport. We gave the world football – all these things should be celebrated." Andrew Skelton said a shortlist of artists will be drawn up and their ideas for the towers will go out to public consultation.."
E.ON has pledged half a million pounds for the towers' replacement on the grounds the money is spent locally and the finished project has an "energy theme".
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