DIDCOT’S coal fired power station is due to close in 2015, opening a heated debate on what will happen to its imposing cooling towers.

An Oxford business consultant believes the site could be transformed into an electric tourist attraction.

Noel Hodson’s vision includes a hotel, restaurants and a swimming pool on a platform joining three of the 325ft-tall towers.

Mr Hodson, 68, said: “It could be a major visitor attraction. People love dramatic structures.”

His idea also involves a cable car to Didcot Station and a helipad. The walls would also be coated in mirrors to blend with the sky and landscape and inside could be homes and offices.

The grandfather-of-two, from Brookside in Headington, said: “Unless the towers are irreparably damaged, it makes sense to keep them.”

Mr Hodson said redevelopment costs would depend on the design but predicted his idea could bring in an income of £2.5m a year, adding: “I create project forecasts professionally so it wouldn’t be a million miles away.”

Mr Hodson came up with the concept as he thought it would be a shame for the towers to come down. He even pitched the idea to station owners RWE npower and suggested it ran a competition to encourage more ideas.

But power station manager Jim Haggan said it could never happen due to planning restrictions.

He said: “Didcot A was built in 1970 and will need to close by the end of 2015 to comply with EU legislation. Part of the existing planning consents associated with Didcot B is that the Didcot A cooling towers will have to be demolished after the plant closes.”