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AWE to face court over explosives bunker fire





The Health and Safety Executive is taking action after the blaze in August 2010 which, as Newburytoday.co.uk reported on at the time, broke out in an area of the site that contained explosives.
An investigation carried out found issues with the control systems put in place and AWE is being prosecuted for three alleged breaches of safety law.
The charges are: failure to ensure the health and safety and welfare of employees; failure to take appropriate measures to limit the extent of the fire, and failure to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment was provided to risk-exposed employees.
AWE plc is due to appear before Reading Magistrates Court on August 6 for the first hearing in the case.
The managing director of AWE, Andrew Jupp, said AWE deeply regretted the incident and that it had conducted a thorough, independent investigation in June last year.
He said there would be no further comment further in view of impending legal action.
The fire started at around 9pm on August 2, 2010, and emergency services immediately threw a 600m cordon around the area.
Nearby residents from Red Lane were evacuated to hotels.
Evacuee, Peter Bradshaw, aged 88, of Red Lane, a former employee of AWE for 37 years, told Newburytoday.co.uk at the time that he had lived in the village for more than 52 years and had never seen an emergency situation like it.
Roads were closed and the cordon was in place overnight as 63 firefighters attempted to quell the flames.
At the time of the incident AWE said the injured staff member was not seriously hurt.



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