Work has finally begun to demolish a derelict 12-storey water tower deemed an eyesore by residents.

The Horton Water Tower has long overshadowed residents at the Livingstone housing development in Epsom with repeated attempts to demolish the building scuppered by red tape and delays. However scaffolding has once again been erected around the tower and this time developers have promised it will be demolished having started work ‘brick by brick’ on Monday.

Kate Battrick, a resident of Cavendish Walk who has long campaigned for the tower's demolition said: “We are really pleased that it has actually now come to end, but it has not been without complications. How much has this cost the tax payer? It comes back to poor administration and local government. It should have come down when Livingstone was first done which was a long time ago. When it’s gone it will just be joyous. There will be no tower hanging over us. It caused quite a wind tunnel and there will be more daylight, particularly during the winter period, and there will be no pigeon mess. There will be space and children will be able to play in that area for the first time. It will just be what it should have been in the first place.”

The tower, which is owned by London and Quadrant Housing Association (L&Q), was due to be demolished last year only to be halted by a change in planning law. But permission was finally granted by Epsom and Ewell Council in August last year.

Councillor Rob Geleit, Epsom’s labour group leader said: “I hope that residents living in the immediate vicinity of the tower will benefit from its demolition. It’s a shame that it has taken so long to get to this stage but we have come into 2012 knowing that there will shortly no longer be a potentially unsafe structure just metres from a number of homes.”

Following the demolition a new soft landscaping area will be created which will include a plaque commemorating the former Horton Hospital site.

Councillor Dan Stevens added: “We will continue working closely with L&Q to ensure that works progress as quickly as possible. The demolition itself will take some time due to the nature of the structure but we hope that the landscaping will be completed sometime in the spring.”

The demolition itself will take nine weeks and is currently due for completion in early March.