Latest news with #Bicester
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Bicester Motion fire: investigation work concludes on site
The scene of a fire in which two firefighters and a member of the public died, has been handed back to its operator, police have Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, along with father-of-two Dave Chester, 57, were killed in the blaze that engulfed a hanger on the Bicester Motion site on 15 other firefighters suffered serious injuries - one remains in hospital in a stable condition and the other has been Valley Police said police, fire and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation work at the scene had concluded and it had been handed back to its operator, Bicester Motion. The force said it was still being treated as an unexplained death the scene watch had been lifted, a cordon remained in place to prevent public access. Assistant Chief Constable Dennis Murray said: "Our thoughts will always be with the loved ones of Jennie Logan, Martyn Sadler and Dave Chester, as well as the injured firefighters, following this tragic incident."This remains an unexplained death investigation and is being led by our Major Crime Unit, who continue to work with fire investigators and the Health and Safety Executive to ascertain the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the sad deaths of Jennie, Martyn and Dave. The fire was reported at about 18:30 BST on 15 May and rapidly spread through a former aircraft hangar at the site on Buckingham Road, and a major incident was fire and rescue crews were called to tackle the blaze as witnesses reported seeing black smoke in the tribute after the fire, the family of Mr Sadler, who previously worked for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) and was also part of London Fire Brigade, said being a firefighter was "always in his blood", adding that he was "the true definition of a hero".The family of Ms Logan said her "bravery and fearlessness shone through right until the end".Mr Chester's family described him as "Bicester born and bred" with a "quirky sense of humour".Bicester Motion is home to more than 50 specialist businesses, focused on classic car restoration and engineering on the former site of RAF was home to RAF Bomber Command in World War Two and became redundant in 2004. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
More immediate road closures announced for Oxfordshire town
A town in Oxfordshire will be affected by further immediate road closures this month, causing delays for drivers. Bicester will face five separate sets of road works throughout the same period from next week in a series of urgent closures from Oxfordshire County Council. The reason given is "to facilitate carriageway surface sealing works" on the roads with closures granted through temporary traffic regulation orders. READ MORE: Inquest concludes into death of young Abingdon man The most recent announcement alerted drivers to a closure on Skimmingdish Lane, which will be closed from June 10 to June 12 between 4am and 6pm. Flash Sale Alert! 🌟 Dive deeper into the stories that shape Oxfordshire with Oxford Mail. Unlimited local news, an ad-free app, and a digital replica of our print edition—all with 80 per cent fewer ads on our site. 🗞️ 👇#StayInformed — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) May 26, 2025 Also closing is Bicester Road, an offshoot of the A4421 to Stratton Audley, which will be closed from June 10 to June 14 between 4am and 6pm. Two A-roads, the A4095 which circles around the northwest of the town and the A4421 north of the town will both be closed from June 10 to June 13, between 4am and 6pm. READ MORE: Oxford: Man arrested after public and door staff assault This is on top of an immediate road closure announced just days before these, alerting drivers that the B4100, running from Bicester through Bainton and Stoke Lyne, will be closed between June 9 and June 12 between 4am and 6pm. The immediate closures means the works are limited to five consecutive days. Limited access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and homes and businesses within the closed section of the works.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bicester East West Rail level crossing petition to be presented
A petition calling for a fully accessible underpass at a town's level crossing will be presented to Parliament on 4,526 signatures, it calls on the government to ensure any replacement of the level crossing at London Road in Bicester includes access for cars, not just cyclists and crossing is set to be closed on safety grounds when the East West Rail (EWR) line becomes fully operational but residents fear this will see the town "cut in two."EWR said it was looking into "all the potential solutions" and that it would present a final proposal to the public. The new EWR service will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge and is due to be opened to passengers in the early Bicester residents are worried it will cut one side of the town off from the other. Petition creator Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, has previously warned of residents' a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves last October, he said: "There is support for the new rail line but also a belief that its opening should not unfairly affect one town. They do not want to see Bicester cut in two."In the most recent consultation, which received more than 6,000 responses and closed in January, EWR had proposed a new footbridge or underpass for pedestrians and a letter from chief executive David Hughes later suggested the plans were under a meeting with Mr Miller and Baron Peter Hendy, the Minister for Rail, on 7 April, Mr Hughes wrote that "further work" had been undertaken as a result of said: "I can confirm that since our meeting we have held discussions with both Network Rail and the local council to understand the feasibility of developing the design to incorporate some form of vehicular access."Mr Miller previously told BBC Radio Oxford it would be "very hard" to put a bridge in place.A spokesperson for East West Railway Company said: "We welcome the public's continued interest in this important issue and continue to assess all the potential solutions for the London Road Level Crossing."Whilst this work is being carried out, we are working closely with our local stakeholders including Calum Miller MP and the local councils."Once all the analysis has been completed a final proposal will be published and presented to the public."The petition, which contains physical signatures only, will be presented by Mr Miller at 19:00 BST.A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We recognise the strong views felt locally in Bicester and East West Rail Company is carefully reviewing responses to its consultation."Options for the future of the London Road level crossing are still being considered, but any option will need to balance cost with the impact on the community." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bicester Motion fire: Inquest into three deaths set to open
An inquest into the deaths of two firefighters and a member of the public who were killed during a fire at a business park is set to open on Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, along with father-of-two Dave Chester, 57, were killed in the blaze that engulfed the Bicester Motion site on 15 Valley Police (TVP) previously said all three had sustained injuries in line with those "typically caused by the collapse of part of a structure".Two other firefighters seriously injured in the incident remain in hospital in stable conditions. The fire was reported at about 18:30 BST on 16 May and rapidly spread through a former aircraft hangar at the site on Buckingham Road, and a major incident was fire and rescue crews were called to tackle the blaze as witnesses reported seeing black smoke in the sky. Bicester Motion is home to more than 50 specialist businesses, focused on classic car restoration and engineering on the former site of RAF was home to RAF Bomber Command in World War Two and became redundant in Valley Police (TVP) said post-mortem examinations showed that Ms Logan, Mr Sadler, who worked for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Mr Chester died from multiple traumatic force also confirmed that an unexplained death investigation was being led by its major crime unit, alongside fire investigators and the Health and Safety Office statistics showed it was only the fourth incident in which a firefighter had died whilst tackling a blaze in England in the past 15 was also the first time two firefighters had been killed in the same fire since Jim Shears and Alan Bannon died in a blaze at Shirley Towers in Southampton in April 2010. Following the blaze, Bicester Town Council opened books of condolence, while church services and silences also took gold plaques were placed at Bicester Motion following the fire, with both signed: "Love from the Bicester Community."Paying tribute after the fire, the family of Mr Sadler, who previously worked for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) and was also part of London Fire Brigade, said being a firefighter was "always in his blood", adding that he was "the true definition of a hero"."Our world has fallen apart and our hearts are completely broken, but somewhere in amongst it all we are immensely proud of him and his unwavering bravery," they family of Ms Logan said her "bravery and fearlessness shone through right until the end"."She will always be our hero and we are so immensely proud of her. Forever in our hearts," they Chester's family described him as "Bicester born and bred" with a "quirky sense of humour"."He was not a victim but a hero, he died the way he lived – helping others and putting them ahead of himself," they continued. Nicholas Mawer, who represents Bicester North on Cherwell District Council, previously told the BBC those lost in the fire were "the best of Bicester"."Thankfully these incidents are very rare but it's deeply affected the community," he Logan and Mr Sadler were members of Bicester Rugby Union Football Club (BRUFC), with Ms Logan on the Bicester Vixens women's team."We are a tight-knit club," BRUFC's chairman Paul Jaggers said."Obviously losing two of your members in any situation is really tough and it's had a profound impact."A fundraiser launched by the club has raised more than £23,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity since the tragedy. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
01-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Banned driver was nearly four times over limit on A41 in Bicester
A man who admitted being nearly four times over the drink drive limit has been banned from driving for two and a half Turnbull, 21, was found to have 133 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath while driving a white Fiat 500 on the A41 in Bicester, Oxfordshire, on 27 April. The legal limit is 35 from Worcester, admitted drink driving at Oxford Magistrates' Court on 22 fined him £708 and told him if he completes a course by 25 February 2027, his 30-month ban will be reduced by 30 weeks. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
