Latest news with #LutonCouncil
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Convoy of caravans enters Luton Vauxhall site and moves on
A convoy of caravans and vehicles that gained entry to the Vauxhall site in Luton has been moved a video posted on Tik Tok, three cars, nine vans, 11 caravans and one truck are seen entering the former van plant at the entrance on Loverose Way off Kimpton Police said officers were called to reports of an encampment on private property on attended to conduct checks and the encampment was moved on by the following day. In the video, a van towing a caravan drives up to the barrier and a man is seen getting presses something and the barrier rises while a security guard looks on as the convoy of vehicles enter the site and more figures appear around the security guard's Council confirmed that as it happened on private land it was up to the landowner to evict rather than the local Police said no police powers were utilised in the production at the site came to an end in March after 120 years of being based in the town.A spokesman for Stellantis, which owns Vauxhall, said security had been increased at the site following the incident. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Teenager's school shooting plan 'extremely shocking'
A teenager's plan to carry out a school shooting after killing three members of his family was "extremely shocking, distressing and upsetting", a council leader said. Nicholas Prosper shot dead his mother Juliana Falcon, 48, his brother Kyle, 16, and 13-year-old sister Giselle at their home in Luton in September. The 19-year-old intended to carry out an attack at his former primary school - and a loaded shotgun with more than 30 cartridges was found in a bush after his arrest, police said. Hazel Simmons, the Labour leader of Luton Council, said the authority "does not underestimate the emotional difficulty this news will have on children, staff, parents and carers across our school community". Bedfordshire Police said it had learned Prosper had planned to commit a shooting at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, in the town. He was "apprehended before he could cause any further harm", it added. Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a "truly appalling, devastating case". Prosper pleaded guilty to three counts of murder at Luton Crown Court on Monday. As well as admitting the killings, he pleaded guilty to purchasing or acquiring a shotgun without a certificate, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing an article with a blade or point. He is due to be sentenced on 5 March. Ms Simmons said: "The revelation that the perpetrator had plans to cause further harm in one of our schools is extremely shocking, distressing and upsetting. "Our schools have robust systems in place to keep children safe and security is constantly reviewed and monitored." She said the council had recently asked schools to conduct a security review following a fatal knife attack at a school in Sheffield - but said all of them would be asked to conduct a further review. "We know this case will be unsettling for parents which is why the council is working with schools to put support in place in our schools to anyone who needs it," she added. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said action needed to be taken "on this growing obsession of violence among some of our teenagers". She said an inquiry into the Southport knife attacks and measures being investigated by the UK's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, would "look more widely at some the issues" and responses involving policing, children's and mental health services, the internet and early intervention. She said the government was publishing legislation about Youth Diversion Orders, "which are about being able to take action early where young people seem to be being radicalised or being engaged in terrorism, to be able to take stronger measures". Maureen Murphy, the headteacher of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, said it was "devastated to learn of the tragic death of our former students Kyle and Giselle and their mother Julianna". "We were very shocked to learn that St Joseph's was an intended target in this incident," she added. "However we would like to reassure our parents and carers that there is no threat to the school." She said there were robust systems in place to keep children safe which includes "having clear procedures in place such as lockdown and safety processes which are regularly practised at the school". "We are proud to be a multi-cultural Catholic community where the safety of children will always be our number one priority and this will never be compromised," she added. A range of support had been put in place for "any parent or pupil who needs it at this time." Officers were called to the family flat in Leabank, off Wauluds Bank Drive, at about 05:30 BST on 13 September after a concerned neighbour said they heard a disturbance. An inquest at Bedford Coroner's Court in October was told that all three of the victims died from gunshot wounds to the head. Speaking previously Det Supt Rob Hall, from the region's major crime unit, said officers who arrived at the scene were "met with such awful circumstances". Prosper was arrested shortly after and the firearm was found in the bushes during a search of the surrounding area. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Man who killed family also planned school shooting Man in court accused of murdering mum and siblings Triple murder suspect is son and brother of victims Man, 18, charged with triple murder over Luton tower block deaths The Luton teenager who planned a school shooting HM Courts & Tribunals Service Luton Borough Council Bedfordshire Police
BBC News
25-02-2025
- BBC News
Teenager's Luton school shooting plan 'extremely shocking'
A teenager's plan to carry out a school shooting after killing three members of his family was "extremely shocking, distressing and upsetting", a council leader Prosper shot dead his mother Juliana Falcon, 48, his brother Kyle, 16, and 13-year-old sister Giselle at their home in Luton in 19-year-old intended to carry out an attack at his former primary school - and a loaded shotgun with more than 30 cartridges was found in a bush after his arrest, police Simmons, the Labour leader of Luton Council, said the authority "does not underestimate the emotional difficulty this news will have on children, staff, parents and carers across our school community". Bedfordshire Police said it had learned Prosper had planned to commit a shooting at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, in the town. He was "apprehended before he could cause any further harm", it added. Prosper pleaded guilty to three counts of murder at Luton Crown Court on well as admitting the killings, he pleaded guilty to purchasing or acquiring a shotgun without a certificate, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing an article with a blade or is due to be sentenced on 5 March. Ms Simmons said: "The revelation that the perpetrator had plans to cause further harm in one of our schools is extremely shocking, distressing and upsetting."Our schools have robust systems in place to keep children safe and security is constantly reviewed and monitored."She said the council had recently asked schools to conduct a security review following a fatal knife attack at a school in Sheffield - but said all of them would be asked to conduct a further review."We know this case will be unsettling for parents which is why the council is working with schools to put support in place in our schools to anyone who needs it," she added. Maureen Murphy, the headteacher of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, said it was "devastated to learn of the tragic death of our former students Kyle and Giselle and their mother Julianna". "We were very shocked to learn that St Joseph's was an intended target in this incident," she added. "However we would like to reassure our parents and carers that there is no threat to the school."She said there were robust systems in place to keep children safe which includes "having clear procedures in place such as lockdown and safety processes which are regularly practised at the school"."We are proud to be a multi-cultural Catholic community where the safety of children will always be our number one priority and this will never be compromised," she added.A range of support had been put in place for "any parent or pupil who needs it at this time." Officers were called to the family flat in Leabank, off Wauluds Bank Drive, at about 05:30 BST on 13 September after a concerned neighbour said they heard a inquest at Bedford Coroner's Court in October was told that all three of the victims died from gunshot wounds to the previously Det Supt Rob Hall, from the region's major crime unit, said officers who arrived at the scene were "met with such awful circumstances".Prosper was arrested shortly after and the firearm was found in the bushes during a search of the surrounding area. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Luton Vauxhall plant will close in April
The owner of Vauxhall has told staff it will close its Luton van-making factory in April. Stellantis announced it would shut the site, which has been making vehicles since 1905, in November as it planned to move its electric van production to its other UK plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. After work ceases in Luton, machinery will be transferred to Ellesmere Port and production on Vauxhall's medium all-electric vans will commence in 2026. The Labour leader of Luton Council, Hazel Simmons, described it as a "devastating blow to Luton and the livelihood of the workers". She said: "Vauxhall has been an integral part of Luton's heritage for decades. "We did what we could to try and stop this closure going ahead and I feel angry that this decision will massively impact the lives of so many people." Stellantis, which also owns Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat, previously said rules imposed to speed up the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK had partly driven its decision. Current rules state that EVs must make up 22% of a manufacturer's car sales this year, and 10% of van sales. In December the government called for the car firm to review its plans to close the factory. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds wrote to the company asking for it "pause" redundancies to enable more time for discussions "about options to keep the plant open". Responding to reports the site would close in April he said: "This news will be deeply concerning for the employees at Luton who will be affected and their families. "We will continue to work closely with [Stellantis], the trade unions and Luton Council to put in place measures to support the local community." Stellantis said it would invest £50m in the Ellesmere Port plant as it became the firm's UK commercial vehicle hub. It said employees affected by job losses would receive support including financial aid, retraining and wellness sessions. In a statement, it said: "The required consultation period with Unite the Union, which has been detailed and constructive, has now finished and we are engaging with all interested parties to ensure that the employees have the best possible advice for their future. "These employees are our priority and we will continue to act responsibly towards those in Luton." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Vauxhall owner to close Luton plant Fears for van plant's long term future due to Brexit Jobs to go at Vauxhall Motors due to chip crisis Vauxhall closure set to have '£310m impact on Luton' Unite the Union Stellantis
