A ‘critical’ proposal to make Colnbrook Logistics Centre a permanent fixture supporting Heathrow Airport operations has been unanimously approved by Slough Borough Council This website uses 'cookies' to give you the best Using this website means you are Ok with this You can change which cookies are set at any time - and find out more about them - by following this link<\/a> motors and property from the Maidenhead Advertiser A ‘vital’ proposal to make Colnbrook Logistics Centre a permanent fixture supporting Heathrow Airport operations has been unanimously approved by Slough Borough Council made at the council’s planning committee meeting on April 23 ends over two decades of temporary planning permissions and cements the site’s role as a ‘critical’ logistics and screening hub for the UK’s busiest airport situated north of the Colnbrook Bypass and just over half a mile from Heathrow has operated since 2001 under a series of temporary consents sought full planning permission for continued use of the site as a permanent centre Applicants stressed to the council that the logistics centre is ‘a critical piece of infrastructure that supports the daily operation of the airport.’ They claimed no other location offers the same proximity and infrastructure required – and that if councillors did not approve the plans it would spell bad news for Heathrow and the wider UK economy a SEGRO representative said it would be ‘difficult to overstate’ how disruptive such a decision would be Colnbrook Logistics Centre is in the greenbelt One of the reasons for the uncertainty surrounding this site is that it is technically in the greenbelt This means that any development there is considered ‘inappropriate’ by default and needs justifying with ‘very special circumstances’ demonstrated by the applicants Such circumstances could include a strong economic argument in favour of the plans Slough’s planning team officers noted that Colnbrook Logistics Centre plays a ‘vital role’ in Heathrow’s construction and maintenance projects with 95 per cent of all building materials passing through the site There are other important elements; the Remote Goods Screening Facility which allows goods to be safely checked and delivered to Heathrow where security sensitive detainees and their baggage/goods are screened before they are taken onto aircraft The facility screens about 400 to 450 people each month From the point of view of jobs in the area Around 98 per cent of employees live locally Key changes include demolishing two admin buildings and replacing them with a single three-storey building featuring office space A cement shed will be repurposed into a Design for Manufacture and Assembly facility allowing off-site construction of infrastructure components there would be a net reduction in building floorspace – down by 155sqm to about 17,049sqm the new application includes 139 car parking spaces and improved pedestrian access via a proposed toucan crossing over the A4 SEGRO’s application includes native tree planting and wildflower seeding Slough council planning officers noted that the proposed landscaping served to improve the appearance of the site its location and particular characteristics’ Northborough & Lynch Hill Valley) said that after 20 years of this site being strangely classed as ‘temporary’ ending this site’s status as a place for which the council is ‘never quite sure what's coming next’ View documents with reference P/12244/012 on Slough council’s online planning portal Business Voters have had their say in local council elections across Buckinghamshire Construction workers did make a mistake when building a new £1.3million roundabout the RBWM cabinet member for highways has said The Conservatives lost a long-held majority at Buckinghamshire Council and fell one seat short of the 49 needed - but how did the votes fall in the county's south Celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day are set to take place across the area this May © Copyright 2024 Baylis Community Media CIC All right reserved Before HM Assistant Coroner Richard Furniss The inquest into the death of Tarek Chowdhury with the jury finding that failings in the immigration detention system contributed to the killing Mr Chowdhury was unlawfully killed by Zana Yusuf Ahmed though the jury found that Mr Ahmed was inappropriately placed in the immigration detention estate the Home Office risked assessed Mr Ahmed as inappropriate for transfer to an immigration removal centre (‘IRC’) due to his violent behaviour He therefore remained in the prison estate Mr Ahmed was not due to be assessed for potential transfer for another four months his transfer to an IRC was considered suitable The Home Office disclosed evidence during the inquest that this was merely to assist with the reduction of foreign national offenders within the prison estate It was accepted by the Home Office that Mr Ahmed should never have been transferred on consideration of his violent custodial behaviour – particularly as the day before he was transferred he had attacked another prison with a table leg Alongside the failure to properly assess Mr Ahmed’s mental health and risk of violence the jury found that there was an absence of an appropriate system to share information about his risk of violence which caused and contributed to Mr Chowdhury’s death They also found that there were failures to share information about his mental health and inappropriate staffing and handover arrangements between the night and morning of the killing which may have contributed to Mr Chowdhury’s death The jury heard evidence that Mr Chowdhury was suitable for an interview for administrative removal without being detained but that he was held in an IRC due to an error by the Home Office said: “We want to take this opportunity to thank the Coroner and the jury for considering carefully the evidence that led to our beloved Tarek’s death These proceedings have shown us that the systems are broken and that it is time for agencies to do some soul searching Mr Ahmed should never have been in an immigration detention centre and no one took responsibility for ensuring that it was safe for him to be there Tarek became victim to his horrific assault we found out that Tarek himself should not have been in detention Tarek’s wife and daughters were expecting their husband and father to join them back home in Bangladesh but instead they received news of his death.” Bharine Kalsi of Deighton Pierce Glynn said: “The jury in this case have heard of a catalogue of systemic failings by various agencies but in particular the immigration detention estate Mr Chowdhury’s family will have to live with the fact that had Mr Ahmed been adequately risk assessed and information shared grandfather and brother would not have been killed No family should have to be confronted by this fact It is now time for agencies to rectify the catastrophic system failings that have come to light during this inquest.” Legal representatives: Nick Armstrong of Matrix Chambers and Bharine Kalsi Our phone lines are open between 09:30 and 17:30 Penspen has been awarded a multi-million pound contract by TotalEnergies in the UK for the operation maintenance and management services for the Colnbrook Rail Terminal and Colnbrook Pipeline feeding London Heathrow Airport the contact award sees 22 employees transfer to Penspen from British Pipeline Agency Ltd (BPA) chief executive officer at Penspen said: “The award from TotalEnergies is testament to the track record we have built in the aviation sector hydrant distribution networks and associated facilities commitment and quality of services ensures that aviation pipeline operators trust Penspen to deliver fuel transportation and storage services safely and reliably from concept to completion The Colnbrook Rail terminal incorporates a rail offloading facility and a 1.9km 12in pipeline feeding the Northern Fuel Receipt facility at London Heathrow Airport The terminal receives Jet A-1 product by freight train from storage terminals in the UK The fuel is then transported onwards to Heathrow’s Northern Fuel receipt facility via the Colnbrook Pipeline for which Penspen will become Statutory Operator duty holders under the Pipeline Safety Regulations (PSR) Penspen will be responsible for: railcar receipt management and off-loading; receipt and dispatch of fuel; fuel sampling; instrumentation inspection and calibration services; the inspection and maintenance regime for the site facilities including pump and switchgear; management of the pipeline integrity through inspection and maintenance; cathodic protection (CP) system management and general site maintenance including lands management Penspen has extensive global airport fuelling experience including maintenance of 55km of pipelines and facilities collectively known as Manchester Airport’s Pipeline System (MAPS) on behalf of Manchester Jetline (MJL) MAPS is the sole supply of aviation fuel to Manchester International Airport and having designed and constructed the original pipeline Penspen now oversees the safety and integrity management and the day-to-day maintenance of the system ensuring its continued integrity by drawing on the company’s specialist technical consultancy services The Global Knowledge Hub for Pipeline Operators and Industry Professionals The Pipeline Technology Journal (ptj) is the premier open-access publication dedicated to advancing innovation and connecting professionals within the global pipeline industry the ptj Journal serves as a vital resource for pipeline operators delivering high-quality technical insights With a reach of over 15,000 subscribers and additional distribution at leading international pipeline events ptj bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and practical application The journal is supported by a distinguished international editorial board ensuring content that is not only authoritative but also relevant to the challenges and opportunities facing the pipeline sector today Readers can benefit from a seamless experience through digital and printed formats along with the weekly ptj Newsletter and the ptj Website provide exclusive access to the latest advancements ptj empowers the pipeline community to drive innovation and shape the sustainable future of energy infrastructure CO2 • Bio Methane • District Heating/Cooling • Electricity • Hydrogen • Natural Gas • Oil • Petrochemicals • Slurry • Wastewater • Water • Others Contact Page © 202 by EITEP Institute. All rights reserved.  WATCH: Local councils have raked in billions through parking charges A new petition has been launched calling for the immediate removal of proposed parking permit fees by a local council which has caused uproar among residents The petition follows a scheme by Slough Borough Council which is currently looking at implementing new Controlled Parking Zones across several areas of the borough residents would be charged £75 for their first parking permit and £125 for a second permit with a maximum of two permits allowed per household while a visitor permit system would allow households to purchase up to 720 hours of visitor parking annually Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk Parking charges could be introduced in March 2025 residents launched apetition earlier this week over growing concerns about the new restrictions including the rollout of yellow linesin residential areas The campaign has quickly gained momentum on Change.org where more than 200 residents have voiced their opposition to the additional financial burden The council argued the scheme will help address parking and congestion issues as well as improve access for emergency services and refuse vehicles The proposed CPZ scheme will affect three distinct zones in Colnbrook stating: "We believe that the proposed fees and the introduction of yellow lines will unfairly penalise those who live here particularly those without off-street parking making it even harder for us to park outside our own homes "Our community should not be forced to pay extra for parking that we need," the petition states calling for a solution that targets only non-residents.” The campaigners are urging the council to work with residents to find what they term "a reasonable and equitable solution" to address parking issues without imposing extra costs on local residents the new parking measures are scheduled to be implemented by March 2025 Residents within any CPZ will need to create an online account to submit evidence for permits and manage their parking arrangements The Colnbrook scheme is part of a wider rollout with several other areas of Slough already in the final stages of implementing similar parking controls one person claimed: "I live in Vicarage Way [and] don't have off-street parking Residents should get the permit for free not our fault Slough Council is bankrupt." Someone else stated that the parking charges are "a joke" We must be able to block our driveway for free It's our driveway at the end of the day We already pay increased council tax and now this The council plans to introduce double yellow lines to prevent parking in residential areas Councillor Paul Kelly did note that the aim of the new parking measures is to reduce the amount of "inconsiderate and displaced parking" which affects many residents daily businesses and stakeholders we can design a scheme which addresses the problems of parking congestion and safety while improving accessibility for emergency services and refuse vehicles,” he stated was driving along Eton Road in Datchet on January 26 at about 11.45am when he was stopped by police A Slough man has been sent to prison for a year and six months for possession of cocaine with intent to supply They found a quantity of drugs concealed in his vehicle and he was arrested at the scene He obstructed a constable in execution of duty – a further offence – and officers also found out his vehicle was uninsured Kica was charged the same day and eventually pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drug He also pleaded guilty to obstructing the constable and use of a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance Following a hearing at Reading Crown Court on Monday Kica was sentenced to one year and six months in prison said: “We hope this result shows that we will not tolerate such actions in Slough and in the Thames Valley “I am pleased to see Oltian Kica put behind bars after we found cocaine in his possession as well as driving without insurance and obstructing a constable in execution of duty “This case shows the importance of stop and search as a tool to fight crime and that we are working hard to target and disrupt the supply of illegal drugs and driving offences in Slough “We will continue to do so but we need the public’s support If you have any information around illegal drugs and those supplying them then please either call 101 or contact us via our website “You can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers which is a charity independent of the police by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.” Crime, courts and inquests Hundreds of homes could be demolished in the west London villages of Harmondsworth and Longford if the expansion gets the green light. Justine Bayley, who lives in Harmondsworth and is chairwoman of the Stop Heathrow Expansion group, said the scheme risked wiping most of the village. She told the PA news agency: “It’s inevitable that demolishing hundreds of homes will smash up a community. “We have two pubs and two shops that would become unviable because of a lack of customers. “There’s a bus route that would have to disappear because there’s a runway in the way. “You’d end up with people being left behind … (but) the community would be gone.” Ms Bayley, who has lived in the village for 30 years, said her home would not be demolished but would be roughly “50 paces” from the boundary of the new runway. She added: “There is some disbelief that it will actually go ahead. “It’s not the first time we’ve been here and this is the last in a series of proposals. “There are many different views in the village and some, particularly those who can’t sell their houses at the moment, are just wanting clarity. “Some people think any decision is better than no decision.” The airport wants to build a third runway to raise capacity and boost resilience. In a speech on Wednesday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves highlighted the scheme among a throng of major projects she said the Government would support. Ms Reeves later said she wanted to see the expansion completed by 2035 and added the whole Cabinet is “united” behind the plan. Richard Young, vicar at the St Mary the Virgin church in Harmondsworth, said the plans “cut very deeply” for residents living in what he described as a “tight-knit community”. He added: “If it went ahead, it would have a devastating effect on the place. The vast majority of it would disappear. “The church would stay but the community around it would go. “(The plans) have been talked about for decades and has been a blight hanging over everyone’s heads. “People can’t move because no one wants to buy their homes. “People love living here. It’s their home. “But there’s also tension because some people hold different views.” Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feed@2025 The Irish News Ltd This week’s public notices include plans for a four-bedroom home on land to the rear of Colnbrook’s Ye Olde George Inn This week’s public notices include plans for a four-bedroom home on land to the rear of Colnbrook’s Ye Olde George Inn A planning application has been submitted to build a detached home on land behind the Ye Olde George Inn in Colnbrook submitted to Slough Borough Council on February 22 by planning agent Zyntax Cadd could see a four-bedroom home built over two floors A public notice has been placed as the proposed development affects the setting of a listed building Organisations including Colnbrook with Poyle Parish Council Berkshire Archaeology and the council’s transport and highways department have been notified about the plans Visit www.sbcplanning.co.uk and search P/09960/018 to view the plans A road closure is planned in the Slough Trading Estate for more than four weeks The closure will be in place between 630 Ajax Avenue and 635-639 Ajax Avenue so roadworks can be carried out Drivers will be unable to use this stretch of road from 00:01 on Wednesday Slough Borough Council said that local diversions will be available while the closure is in place save and share Public Notices that affect you in your local area Colnbrook Asylum seekers can spend years in limbo at Colnbrook detention centre taking their photographs and encouraging them to record their lives during the torturous wait is a shadowy place where the media spotlight seldom penetrates when Mitie took over the contract – says 80,000 have passed through since it was opened in 2004 Varveropoulou’s photographs and those taken by the inmates who signed up for the workshops she ran there are remarkable But what is even more remarkable is that they were taken at all Privately managed centres such as Colnbrook Each room in the category B prison holds two men .. she just planned to take her own photographs but quickly realised the only way to tell the story was to collaborate with the detainees who were given cameras and encouraged to record their life in the centre “How could I ever tell the story of what it’s like to be in detention?” she says “The only way to communicate the experience was through them.” The resulting work is a combination of Varveropoulou’s detached images of empty rooms and messy cells sometimes bleak but also capable of warmth and tenderness a means of escape from their wretched circumstances At first they found it difficult to express themselves and took jokey photographs of their fellow detainees Varveropoulou allowed them to enjoy the fun and freedom that taking pictures brought they began to develop a sense of aesthetics You realise how often dominoes feature in the pictures how much time the detainees must kill playing the game .. Photograph: M Noor Once they had more confidence and ambition she encouraged them to use their photographs to reflect on their experiences One took a photograph of a distant plane trailing across a flawless blue sky The world outside is tantalisingly close but forever out of reach with gorgeous cloud formations scudding across the centre’s tall barbed-wire-fringed fences in another picture A collection of dominoes on a table top covered in a brown cloth seems innocuous until you realise how often dominoes feature in other pictures how much time the detainees must kill (or try to kill) playing the game and how the dotted numbers on the tiles seem somehow to signify the inmates’ own anonymity There are photographs taken at disconcerting angles; blank faces stare from TV screens; fluorescent lights always seem to be on in a world where night and day have ceased to exist; beds are never made; everything is sterile The process of creating photographs that embodied the men’s perceptions of life at the centre became easier when common themes emerged in the discussions that took place at the workshops “They all started talking about the same things,” says Varveropoulou whereas in prison you have a three-year sentence and you’re counting down We had endless conversations about what that does to your mental health.” and the images became conversations.” The men were no longer just taking pictures as a form of escapism; they were giving photographic expression to their innermost thoughts One produced a series of images of blurred lights set against inky backgrounds that are like photographic representations of a scream Many of the photographs capture a sense of entrapment: in one a man stands in front of bars rootless; in another a pool game being played in a basement is seen through the mesh above; in one surreal image a battered green football lying on the ground appears to be the world floating through space ‘There is barbed wire everywhere even on the sky’ Photograph: M Noor“It’s very oppressive,” says Varveropoulou The men all suffer from mental health problems They see themselves as caught in an administrative mess Most of those applying for refugee status have escaped terrible situations and are already suffering post-traumatic stress and their mental health deteriorates further.” Varveropoulou has lived in the UK for the past 15 years She has always been interested in issues of migration and identity – one of her previous projects dealt with people displaced by the division of Cyprus in the 1970s “The refugee experience is embedded in Greek life,” she says “Both of my grandmothers were refugees from Turkey” – Greeks forced out by ethnic tensions ‘My family are trying so hard to be supportive they bring me fresh flowers every time they visit ...’ Photograph: Allen SShe spent a long time trying to find a way to do a project on detention She was volunteering at Counterpoint Arts in 2011 and heard about the possibility of setting up a photography workshop at Colnbrook “I told them I would run the workshops for free if they let me photograph the centre and work with whoever wants to work with me.” To her surprise She was not allowed to photograph guards and was not given access to the new section housing women detainees The workshops ran for two years from 2012 to 2014 What emerged was a “parallel perspective – the outsider’s perspective and the insider’s perspective” She took portraits of the men who came to the workshops “I didn’t like the dynamics of them being against the wall again and me subjecting them to my gaze.” So the portraiture became collaborative too with subjects allowed to choose which photographs would be used ‘My partner gave birth to our first child two weeks ago I still haven’t met my baby boy but I try speak to them as often as possible …’ Photograph: A SibandaFrom the beginning she knew she didn’t want to reprise the men’s life histories “I was uncomfortable asking them about their stories and they’re expected to tell him their stories.” Instead she wanted to give them the means to reflect on how detention was affecting them not least as halfway through she gave birth to her first child Her partner is from ex-Yugoslavia and came to the UK as a refugee in the 1990s battling for nine years to be allowed to stay though never suffering detention in those more liberal His experience adds another layer to her passion for the subject Varveropoulou plans to produce a book based on her work at Colnbrook People don’t leave their country to claim benefits because you want to contribute and pay taxes Photographs from No Man’s Land are on show until 6 September at the Royal Festival Hall, London SE1 as part of Adopting Britain: 70 Years of Migration Plans have been submitted to turn a former Colnbrook pub into three flats Developer Leisure Inc (Knightsbridge) Ltd is seeking permission from Slough Borough Council to convert the Star and Garter in Park Street The pub has been listed as a grade-II building by Historic England since 1952 and was constructed around the beginning of the 18th century Although modern enhancements have been made to some elements of the building a mid-19th century ground floor break is also present inside the building Plans were previously approved in 2018 to convert he pub into six flats with a café on the ground floor as work did not begin within three years of approval The developer is seeking to demolish 168 cubic metres of the 550 cubic metre building which is says ‘comprises of a flat roof additions’ which was added in the mid-20th century with further work completed around 1994 “The part of the building to be demolished is a modern addition which does not contribute to the significance of the listed building,” said the developer in the correspondence submitted with the application “It is unattractive and its removal and replacement with a better designed addition will enhance the listed building.” with two on the ground floor and the third on the first floor whilst the second floor of the building is to be used for storage Although this will see some existing walls removed inside the building added: “The internal works proposed will preserve the special architectural and historic interest the building possesses and will sustain its significance enhance the building and respect its character and distinctiveness.” search P/14825/016 on the SBC planning portal Six fire engines from across Berkshire and as far as London spent most of the night in Colnbrook on Saturday after a waste processing plant went up in smoke About 30 tonnes of bulky waste caught alight at Grundon Waste Management on Lakeside Industrial Estate on the Colnbrook By-Pass Workers were on the site and had to stop because the smoke was so thick The fire brigade was called – and six crews came Firefighters tackled the blaze for about six hours – from 8pm to 2am using the six engines as well as an aerial ladder and water cannon The Langley Fire Station team said the cause was unknown Grundon Waste Management has paid tribute to fire crews and its own team who worked throughout the night to control the fire It took hold in a bay containing an estimated 30 tonnes of bulky waste which was being stored within one of eight ‘specially designed concrete-walled waste collection bays’ at the facility A Grundon spokesperson said: “We are extremely grateful for the prompt response from fire crews across the region and also to our own team their swift and tireless actions helped ensure the fire was quickly and safely contained “We’re pleased to confirm no-one was injured as a result of the fire and we should also like to reassure residents that there was no danger to the wider public “The alarm was raised within a short space of time thanks to our strict on-site safety procedures the building’s fire walls and fire suppression systems which were specifically designed to manage fire risk “While it is too early to speculate on the possible cause of the fire we shall be working closely with the fire brigade and other relevant authorities to investigate further.” Follow me on Twitter Thames Valley Police has arrested two people in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in Colnbrook on Thursday evening An 18-year-old pedestrian died after being hit by a van driver in Horton Road Police said the driver of a black Mercedes Sprinter van failed to stop at the scene The family of the 18-year-old man have been informed and are currently being supported by specially trained officers have been arrested in suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving said: “I am appealing to members of the public to help our investigation into this incident in which a young man has tragically lost his life “The driver of the van did not stop at the scene but we are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the vehicle before dashcam or mobile phone footage you might have and if you have any information then please contact us.” Call police on 101 quoting the reference number 43240085228 or make a report online at www.thamesvalley.police.uk  if you have any information in connection with the fatal crash call Crimestoppers anonymously on 08000 555 Frank Ospina’s death followed by reports of suicide attempts by other detainees at immigration centre Lawyers and charities have predicted an unfolding crisis in immigration detention after the death of a detainee and reports of subsequent suicide attempts by others The Home Office confirmed that investigations had been launched by police and the prisons and probation ombudsman into the death of Frank Ospina on 26 March He was being held at Colnbrook immigration removal centre near Heathrow next to the adjoining Harmondsworth immigration detention centre He is believed to have been 39 and from Colombia A notice to detainees from the centre manager Paul Rennie dated the day the man died states: “It is with respect that I have to announce that resident Mr Frank Ospina sadly passed away today.” It adds: “Please be assured we are doing all we can to reduce the risks of such incidents happening again in the future.” The Guardian received reports from several detainees that shortly after reports of Ospina’s death circulated and that some detainees staged a protest at the centre earlier this week Charities have also highlighted delays in carrying out what are known as rule 35 reports which assess vulnerabilities of people in detention such as whether they are a suicide risk The Home Office did not comment on these reports Read moreOne detainee at Harmondsworth told the Guardian: “We are all feeling very frustrated after the death on Sunday I met him when he was on the induction wing and was shocked when I heard he had died There are a lot of tensions here because more detainees attempted suicide after the news of Mr Ospina’s death circulated The centre is at full capacity at the moment.” the legal director of Bail For Immigration Detainees said: “We are distressed to receive news that a man has died and others have attempted suicide at Heathrow IRC We have serious concerns that the situation is deteriorating at the centre We have received reports of self-harm and a worsening of overall conditions The atmosphere at Heathrow IRC is described as tense.” said: “The crisis in immigration seems to have deepened The tragic death of Frank Ospina is shocking a complete failure of clinical safeguards in immigration removal centres We fear that as long as these failings continue to go unaddressed there will be more deaths “Medical Justice is greatly concerned about the massive expansion of immigration detention that the illegal migration bill calls for Free daily newsletterOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters A Home Office spokesperson said: “Any death in immigration detention is a tragic event and will be subject to investigation by the police and the independent prisons and probation ombudsman “All our IRCs offer physical and mental wellbeing support to all individuals in detention with access to 24-hour primary healthcare and welfare teams on site Policies and procedures are in place to safeguard and provide support to individuals in detention deemed to have suicidal intentions This is in place to safeguard vulnerable people in detention.” On 7 March the Home Office confirmed another death this time of an asylum seeker in accommodation in Liverpool He is understood to have taken his own life A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are saddened to hear of the death of a person in asylum accommodation The health and wellbeing of asylum seekers will always be our priority.” said: “It is devastating to hear of people who come here seeking safety but find only pain A full investigation is essential to ensure asylum seekers receive the care they deserve.” A man who assaulted staff members and engaged in racially aggravated behaviour in a Co-operative in Slough has been convicted of a number of serious offences Follow me on Twitter Colnbrook appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday February 15 where he pleaded guilty to two counts of racially/religiously aggravated common assault and two counts of assault by beating Francis entered the Co-operative in Trelawney Avenue and assault staff members and engaged in racially aggravated behaviour Francis also admitted one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm one count of racially/religiously aggravated wounding one count of assault of an emergency worker and a count each of using threatening/abusive/insulting words and racially/religiously aggravated harassment He was charged in the early hours of Thursday and admitted all the offences in court on the same day He has been remanded in custody to appear at Reading Crown Court for sentencing on a date yet to be confirmed said: “Thames Valley Police is aware of issues in the vicinity of Trelawney Avenue shops and we have stepped up patrols of this area “Thames Valley Police will not tolerate criminality and anti-social behaviour which impacts the lives of retailers residents and shoppers and as can be seen from this case we will take very swift action to deal with those responsible.” A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident and has been released on police bail while the investigations continue Slough The family of an 18-year-old man killed in a hit-and-run in Colnbrook have described him as a ‘beautiful soul’ Adam Bouaziz died after being hit by a van driver in Horton Road Today Thames Valley Police released a tribute on behalf of his heartbroken family Slim and Zak would like to express their sincere thanks to the overwhelming kindness and support from the hundreds of well-wishers after the tragic death of their beloved son Adam who was killed in a road traffic collision in Colnbrook on February 22 we are beyond devastated; our boy was made of pure sunshine Flowers at the scene of the crash in Horton Road The statement added: “We need to tell the world how proud we are to have had his beautiful soul in our lives and how the privilege of being his parents and brother “We hope our boy will rest in internal peace and knows he will remain in our hearts forever.” A GoFundMe appeal has raised almost £4,000 for the family of Adam Bouaziz have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving Thames Valley Police is continuing to appeal for witnesses to the crash Call police on 101 quoting the reference number 43240085228 or make a report online at www.thamesvalley.police.uk  if you have any information You are in: Berkshire > History > Local History > Colnbrook's gruesome contraption The Ostrich Inn is not only the third oldest pub in the UK Pub owner Jane Eyles told BBC Berkshire's Henry Kelly how a 17th century landlord murdered his rich victims although the current building was constructed in the 1500's The hostelry is said to have hosted King John who is rumoured to have stopped at the pub on the way to Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta highwayman robber Dick Turpin used the inn as a hideout escaping the Bow Street Runners by jumping out of a window But it was a series of murders in the 17th century which really put the pub on the map Rich guests at the inn started disappearing in mysterious circumstances under the reign  infamous pub landlord Mr Jarman Pub owner Jane Eyles said: "His wife used to ply some of the rich customers with food and wine "The guests would go to sleep upstairs in one of the rooms that had a magic four-poster bed in it "It would tip backwards when they were fast asleep and tip them into a pot of boiling liquid "Then they would throw the bodies into the brook behind the hotel." Click here to read a contemporary account by Thomas Deloney describing the murder The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites A working model of the 'magic bed' is on display at the pub to this day The murderous pair stayed undetected until they plotted to kill a well-known clothier called Thomas Cole After persuading him to make his last will before he retired Jane said: "Cole's horse was found wandering the streets the day afterwards and somebody recognised the horse Then they found the body and that was how they got caught." Mr Jarman boasted of having murdered up to 60 people in this way The town is said to have been named Colebrook following the Cole murder last updated: 06/05/2009 at 12:31created: 05/05/2009 The council has refused permission for changes to plans at an adult entertainment club in Colnbrook – fearing the expansion would cause safety issues on the roads The council has refused permission for changes to plans at an adult entertainment club in Colnbrook – fearing the expansion would cause safety issues on the roads permission was granted for Tantric Blue on Colnbrook By Pass to be turned into new restaurant and takeaway an application to vary these plans was quashed by Slough council The proposed amendments related to layout changes including for the ground floor to be used as an extended dining hall But this change ‘would result in an increase in vehicle movements due to the increased capacity of the venue,’ Slough council officers wrote The corresponding additional car parking provisions ‘would intensify the use of a sub-standard existing access junction,’ they added They felt this would cause ‘increased risk to highway users’ due to the potential for additional conflicts between users of the petrol filling station and cyclists/pedestrians on the shared footway “The intensification of the access junction would be detrimental to highways safety,” officers concluded ‘Insufficient’ information was provided in relation to the number of anticipated trips resulting from the amendments It was therefore ‘not possible’ to assess the impact of this on the highways network the plans did not properly justify the level of car parking The development ‘fails to provide car parking in accordance with the council’s standards.’ the variations ‘could lead to additional on-street car parking’ which would obstruct the free-flow of traffic on the A4 Additional pavement parking ‘could obstruct access by emergency vehicles which would be detrimental to safety for users of the highway including pedestrians.’ The plans also fail to provide cycle parking in accordance with adopted Slough Borough Council standards enter reference P/10776/005 in Slough’s planning portal Inspection report recommends that there should be a strict time limit on the length of immigration detention HM Chief Inspector of Prisons last month released a report following an unannounced inspection of Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre in Harmondsworth Image credit: WikipediaThe comprehensive 96-page report can be read here At the time of the inspection Colnbrook held 339 detainees and there was provision to detain up to 27 women said he was pleased to see that progress has been made at Colnbrook The Chief Inspector of Prisons' main concerns were: • some areas of the centre were in need of refurbishment and the induction unit in particular was very poor; • chronic staffing shortages affected the continuity and consistency of health care; and • although care for those with severe mental health needs was generally good it was concerning that people with such severe illnesses were in immigration detention at all the report stated: "Another significant concern was around the use of force and its governance inspectors found an incident where the evidence from the CCTV did not accord with the written record of what was supposed to have happened it transpired that the management of the centre were entirely unaware of the incident At the conclusion of the inspection this incident was being investigated." The main positive findings from the inspection were: • the introduction of free flow movement around the centre for detainees was a significant achievement and contributed to a calmer atmosphere; produced by a medical practitioner to report on the case of an individual whom they believe may have been vulnerable or a torture survivor • detainees had better access to a number of planned recreational activities and although the range of education was limited • the welfare team was effective and did good work with a large number of detainees receiving good support from third sector agencies As the Detention Forum (a network of organisations working together to challenge the UK's use of detention) noted the Chief Inspector of Prisons recommended in the report: "There should be a strict time limit on the length of detention and caseworkers should act with diligence and expedition." The reported stated: "Most detainees were held for short periods and there were fewer cases of prolonged detention than at our last inspection 20 detainees had been held for 12 to 24 months three for over two years and one for more than four and a half years Detention reviews did not always show that the factors for and against detention had been considered in a balanced way." The Detention Forum also noted that the inspection found that 48% of those detained felt depressed or suicidal when they first arrived yet no private interview on arrival means that that there is no effective assessment of needs although full risk assessments are carried out within a few days of arrival Electronic Immigration Network is a registered charity E-mail: info@ein.org.uk Search help Bundle help Password help Legal and copyright Privacy policy and cookies Payment policy Message Invalid character found in the request target The valid characters are defined in RFC 7230 and RFC 3986 Description The server cannot or will not process the request due to something that is perceived to be a client error (e.g. Note The full stack trace of the root cause is available in the server logs The prestigious Green Flag was raised in Colnbrook Recreation Ground last week recognising the park’s beauty and environmental standards owned by Colnbrook with Poyle Parish Council has won the prestigious award for the past seven years Parish councillor Dexter Smith told the Express: “I think we’re setting a high standard with regards to it’s maintenance “I think what’s particularly good about the [play] facility there is we get plenty of people using it.” Future plans for the park include improving the football pitch and potentially installing tennis courts The green flag was raised by members of the parish council on Thursday A flood alert has been put in place for Datchet Wraysbury and parts of Colnbrook due to rising river levels The Environment Agency said property flooding is not currently expected but flooding of low-lying land and roads is expected to continue today (Wednesday) The flood alert states: “The forecast is for showers with further rainfall on Thursday throughout the day “We expect river levels to rise as the river is sensitive to current rainfall Avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses.” The Environment Agency has warned that river levels are currently high on the Colnbrook and Lower River Colne The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for rain covering London and the South East of England from 5am until 5pm on Thursday Most places within the warning area will see between 10 to 15mm of rainfall Datchet A flood warning has been issued for Colnbrook Horton and Wraysbury areas this weekend due to river levels rising on the Colne.  Horton and Wraysbury updated today (January 7) states that flooding ‘is expected from 10am’ today The alert states that while there is ‘no further rainfall’ forecast ‘river levels are rising on the Colne due to heavy rainfall earlier this week and the impact of high water levels’ on the River Thames The areas most at risk include Aintree Close People are being advised to monitor the water levels locally activate their flood plan and 'consider activating any property flood protection products'.  driving or cycling through flood water.  A former court usher has swapped his robes for an apron to fulfil his dream of opening a cafe Shaun Paesano-Cox spent about six years working in a magistrates' court before leaving to set up Piezanos with wife Tina the shop is a family venture in the fullest sense of the term “It’s just something that I wanted to do,” Shaun said about the decision “Getting up and wanting to come to work is a pleasure and so is getting to drive into work with Tina every day – she’s my bets friend so the more time we spend together the better Officials admit shortcomings at inquest into death of man who was killed by another detainee A senior Home Office official has repeatedly apologised for shortcomings that led to the killing of a “gentle and polite” man in immigration detention, at an inquest into his death West London coroner’s court is exploring the role of the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, health professionals and detention centre subcontractors in the death of Tarek Chowdhury, from Bangladesh. The 64-year-old was killed by Zana Assad Yusif, 33 at Colnbrook immigration removal centre near Heathrow in December 2016 who was well known to mental health services and had 16 previous convictions for 33 different offences beat Chowdhury to death just two days after the latter arrived in Colnbrook Chowdhury had lived in the UK for 13 years and was detained by the Home Office as an overstayer when he attended a regular reporting session Yusif arrived in the UK inside a lorry at the age of 17 the Home Office’s director of detention escorting service in immigration enforcement apologised several times for failures in the case during his evidence at the inquest risk assessor for the department on time served foreign national offenders was asked by Chowdhury’s family’s counsel Nick Armstrong: “It’s just a spectacular system failure?” Assistant coroner Richard Furniss also asked if the Home Office was responsible for a system failure A key issue to emerge during the inquest has been the failure of the Home Office the prison service and other agencies to share sufficient information about foreign national offenders who serve a prison sentence and are then considered for transfer to an immigration detention centre and deportation Riley said improvements had been agreed after Chowdhury’s death including the sharing of information through a system known as Mercury key Furniss said the system had not yet been rolled out The jury heard evidence that the prison service was under considerable pressure at the time of the incident to move foreign national offenders to immigration detention centres wherever possible Evidence from internal Home Office files emerged revealing that Chowdhury was not detained because he had a history of offending or absconding – he had neither – but because his file was not processed in time to place him in a non-detained category The records showed that another reason for detaining him was because he might make a human rights claim based on his family life in the UK “He should never have been detained in the first place It’s such a tragic case for the family,” Riley replied “On this occasion with tragic consequences that I can only apologise for there was a significant increase in the number of Home Office staff inside detention centres assessing risk and “lessons learnt” sessions were now being held “We are keen to turn the spotlight on our processes if there’s a chance we are getting something wrong.” He said officials were having “mature conversations” about these issues and he accepted that systems at the time were not sophisticated enough to pick up patterns of behaviour such as those exhibited by Yusif Yusif pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility because of his mental health problems at a trial at the Old Bailey in London in May 2017 in custody after 64-year-old dies in hospital following alleged assault at Colnbrook immigration removal centre Police have launched a murder investigation after a 64-year-old immigration detainee died following a fight in a detention centre close to Heathrow Officers were called to an assault at the Colnbrook immigration removal centre in west London on Thursday morning but the man died in hospital 12 hours later at 9.30pm Colnbrook has the capacity to hold up to 396 men and 27 women It is run by Home Office subcontractors Mitie Care and Custody Colnbrook detainees told the Guardian they were sad about the death and expressed fear for their safety circulated a letter to all detainees on Thursday night saying the victim was being treated in hospital “The detainee involved is currently being treated in hospital and police have attended the fight We believe this to be an isolated incident We have no further information at this time,” the letter said One detainee said: “There is a lot of violence in this centre and a lot of people are harming themselves We are not allowed to have phones with cameras in them we could get some photos to the outside world and show people what is really happening in this place “They sometimes put the whole place on lockdown and then we feel really trapped Every day we feel very stressed in this place I don’t think you would keep an animal in these conditions.” Another detainee said: “Everyone is very scared after what happened We don’t know who to trust and we don’t know what will happen next “People who are sick don’t always get the proper treatment from the healthcare unit and we see terrible things sometimes when people are being deported some have restraint belts put around their waists said: “While the exact facts are still unconfirmed and a murder investigation is continuing our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased the bare minimum we expect from immigration detention centres is that they guarantee the safety and security of those in their protection It is unacceptable that this marks the 27th death that has happened in a detention centre in the UK The Home Office owes a duty of care to people in detention and this must be upheld.” A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed that a murder investigation is under way “Detectives from the homicide and major crime command led by DCI Mark Lawson are investigating No one else is currently being sought in connection with the investigation,” he said A Home Office spokesman said it did not comment on continuing police investigations holds migrants the Home Office is planning to remove from the UK as well as foreign prisoners who have completed their sentences 43% of detainees were released back into the community