Road could partly reopen after building collapse

Discussions are being held in the hope of partly reopening a key town centre route which has remained closed for a week after a building site partially collapsed.

Two people were taken to hospital after an apartment block under construction partly collapsed alongside scaffolding on the A4260 Cherwell Street in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on 21 October.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) previously said it was investigating the incident, and its inspectors had visited the site as part of its enquiries.

Cherwell District Council, which is managing the ongoing road closure, said on Wednesday that it was working to see if the route could be partly reopened.

The road which sits on one of the market town's busiest junctions, has remained closed since the incident, causing traffic to divert and build up elsewhere.

A proposal by the site's owner to make the site safe and for materials to be removed is currently being considered by the HSE.

In a statement, Cherwell District Council said: "Discussions are taking place with the Highways Authority, about whether part of Cherwell Street could safely reopen while the remaining work is carried out."

"Any decision will depend on a number of factors, including the outcome of the HSE's review and the practical arrangements for completing the necessary works."

It thanked locals for their "patience" during the ongoing closure, and urged people not to attempt to access the closed area as there "remains a risk from the unstable structure".

Councillor Gareth Epps, who is in charge of Oxfordshire's roads, previously said: "We can't afford to take any chances with people's safety.

"We will work with the police and with the Health and Safety Executive to make sure that that's safe.

"We need to let their investigation take its course and then get the road back up and running again."

Since the road closure, locals have taken to social media to report widespread congestion and long delays around other town centre routes, including at Banbury Cross.

Thames Valley Police said nine workers had been at the site when the scaffolding and building both partially collapsed - with two injured and taken to hospital.