Latest news with #HGVs
BBC News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
A40 roundabout closed following serious crash
A major road is closed following a serious Police has said the A40 is closed at the Northleach roundabout, where it meets the A429 eastbound towards Burford, due to a crash in the early are in place, with police telling motorists who are not driving heavy goods vehicles to head through Northleach instead."The road will be closed for some time," a spokesperson added.
ITV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Textile company fined after director killed by reversing lorry in Rochdale
A textile manufacturer has been fined £220,000 after one of its directors was killed by a reversing lorry. Daniel Ames was a director of The British Millerain Company Limited and had offered to stay behind at the company warehouse in Rochdale to wait for the return of the vehicle on 22 June 2023. When the truck arrived at around 5.30pm Mr Ames spoke to the driver and confirmed he would act as banksman to help the vehicle reverse into the warehouse. During the manoeuvre, the driver lost sight of Mr Ames and when he got out to check, he found him trapped between the vehicle and some steel storage racks in the warehouse. The driver called paramedics, but Mr Ames died in hospital from his injuries. Speaking after the company was fined, Mr Ames' family said the outcome left them with "mixed emotions". 'Daniel went to work and never came home again, and we have a massive hole in our lives that will never be filled,' they said in a statement. 'We are glad the company have admitted being responsible for his death and been handed a fine. 'But we remain devastated that we no longer have Daniel in our lives. Today we have still lost a much-loved dad, husband, uncle, son and brother, and we are devastated that his life ended in this way. 'He got on well with all his colleagues at work and had a great career. He was a respected professional who loved his job and was well known in the industry and was excited for his future. "But that was taken away from us all in an instant. 'He was a real family man with a great sense of humour who was always making people smile and laugh and he enjoyed life to the full. We all miss him so much.' The incident was reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who carried out an investigation into what happened. That identified a number of failings exposing employees to various risks, including having no safe system in place for reversing HGVs. Employees confirmed they had been doing the task for several years but had never received any training. This included one employee who said he had on occasion reversed HGVs into the warehouse with someone else acting as banksman – despite neither being trained to do so. The HSE investigation also found the company had no risk assessment in place in relation to this work, with the regulator serving it with an improvement notice. Following the incident the company carried out a risk assessment that resulted in a safe system of work being implemented, which meant vehicles were no longer reversed using a banksman. The British Millerain Company Limited, of Buckley Road, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to breaching section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £220,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,634 at Manchester Magistrates Court on 10 July 2025. HSE inspector Jane Carroll said: 'This is a tragic case. "Daniel was clearly popular and respected, but his leadership and dedication to his colleagues was not properly protected by the defendant. 'A safe system of work was not in place.
Leader Live
12-07-2025
- General
- Leader Live
Denbighshire woman raises thousands for Air Ambulance
Joanna Lightfoot, 48, from Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, completed the West Highland Way in memory of her husband Jim, who died 14 years ago from a heart attack while at work. She raised £2,445 for the charity that attended the scene on the day Jim died. Mrs Lightfoot said: "Sadly, they could not save Jim, but I know the Wales Air Ambulance did everything they possibly could. "For this reason, I decided to walk in memory of Jim and use this opportunity to fundraise for this wonderful charity." She took on the 96-mile trek through the Scottish Highlands alongside friends from her gym, covering around 20 miles each day. The walk began on the anniversary of her husband's death. Mrs Lightfoot said: "Emotions on the first day were mixed. "I was nervous and anxious as to whether I would manage it or not. "Day one was also the 14-year anniversary of Jim's death, so he was very much at the forefront of my mind, spurring me on with every step." She described the challenge as physically and emotionally demanding, particularly on day two when the group faced more than 20 miles of difficult terrain. Mrs Lightfoot said: "We finally made it to our accommodation at 10.45pm and had to be up and out again at 7am the next morning. "When I completed the walk on day five, I cried many happy tears. "I was overwhelmed with emotion." Joanna Lightfoot (Image: Supplied) Her husband Jim ran his own garage repairing mainly HGVs, and 'adored' their daughter Jodie, who was just five years old when he died. Wales Air Ambulance requires £11.2 million each year to operate its helicopters and rapid response vehicles across the country. The service is consultant-led and delivers advanced critical care at the scene, including anaesthesia, blood transfusions, and minor surgical procedures. Debra Sima, regional fundraising manager for Wales Air Ambulance, said: "It is always heartwarming to hear of families that fundraise for the Wales Air Ambulance after losing a loved one. "Sadly, Jim unfortunately could not be saved following his heart attack. "Joanna set herself the huge challenge of walking the Scottish West Highland Way over five days. "She did that with the support of her friends and raised an amazing amount for the Wales Air Ambulance. "We're extremely grateful for your support and it was a lovely way to remember Jim 14 years on." Mrs Lightfoot, who works in accounts for a construction company, said she was 'delighted' to raise funds for the charity and thanked everyone who donated in her husband's memory.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Diesel spill repairs to shut Southampton's Thomas Lewis Way overnight
A main route in Southampton is set to close overnight for further work to repair a two-mile stretch of carriageway after a diesel spill from a HGV's fuel tank ruptured, leaking about 580 litres on the road, as it travelled along the A335 Thomas Lewis Way and Empress Way after 05:30 BST on Thursday. The road was closed both ways while the fuel was cleared before reopening in the early hours of Friday. Another full closure is expected overnight from 20:00 until 06:00 on Saturday for resurfacing City Council said the spill left a "vast area to assess" ahead of the most severely impacted parts of the carriageway being resurfaced. Apologising for the disruption, the city council said: "We do have small spills like this from time to time, however the scale of this spillage is unprecedented."Thank you for your understanding as we deal with this evolving situation."The authority added that, due to the risk of diesel contaminating the soil or water, the Environment Agency had been called in to assess the spill. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
South Wales Argus
08-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Dog grooming and day care business in Talywain approved
Kathryn Davies has run Kabokane K9 Services from a commercial unit previously used for the maintenance and storage of HGVs at her home at Old Station House in Church Road, Talywain, Pontypool. She made a retrospective application to Torfaen Borough Council for permission for the dog grooming and a licensed dog breeding business as well as to cover permission for a 'doggy day care service'. The council's planning department has approved the application which also includes alternations to the existing industrial building used for breeding and the day care business while the grooming service is based in a portable unit on the site which is also the location of the applicant's home. Planning officer Simon Pritchard said the changes to the building would have minimal impact but how the businesses could affect neighbours would also have to be considered with one objection received. His report stated the nearest home is Ms Davies' and others are some distance from the site and given the nature of people dropping off, or collecting, dogs or bringing them for pre-booked grooming the number of vehicle trips isn't considered unacceptable. There were also no objections from the council's highways or environmental health departments but it was noted the day care business will also require licensing. Drop off and collection times will also be controlled by a planning condition. With all three now approved uses combined the maximum number of dogs on site at any one time will be 28. The day care business will have seven kennels limited to a maximum of two dogs in each, but only if they are from the same owner, meaning it could hold up to 14 while the dog breeding business would have a maximum of 10 at one time and the grooming no more than four. Staffing will increase to two full time and one part timer. The earliest drop off for the doggy day care would be 8am and collection would be at the latest at 6pm from Monday through Sunday. The dog grooming would be open 9.30am to 4pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
