End of an era for CEMEX

HUNDREDS of local people turned out recently to watch a controlled explosion bringing down the 375ft chimney stack at CEMEX UK’s former cement plant in Rochester, Kent.

The event marked the end of 150 years of cement making at the plant, and brought to a close an important chapter in the social and economic life of the county.

The button was pressed by former plant employee Dave Dark, who won a competition to raise funds for the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester.

Demolition of the 11ha plant began last March to make way for a new mixed-use lakeside community of more than 500 homes. 


CEMEX began consulting with the local community early in 2006 over plans to demolish the works and to replace it with a vibrant new waterside community, after deciding to open their new, modern and low-carbon cement grinding and blending plant at the Port of Tilbury in Essex. 



‘This marks the end of end of an era for our cement manufacturing in Kent, at a plant which has provided employment and a livelihood for many local people for more than a century, but our Tilbury plant now provides a more environmentally friendly option for cement making,’ commented CEMEX UK’s president, Gonzalo Galindo.

He added: ‘We hope the new mixed-use lakeside development will be of great benefit to the local community.’