Reading town centre major incident: Scaffolding collapses

Scaffolding has fallen down from a building site in a horror incident in Garrard Street, Reading today (Thursday, August 1).

Three people were treated for injuries at the scene and have now been taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Picture by Karen Rigden

The scaffolding was being worked on the Station Hill development site.

A spokesperson from South Central Ambulance Service said: "We received multiple 999 calls just after 11:15 all reporting that scaffolding had collapsed from the front of Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Reading, with some of the calls suggesting one or two people had been buried by the collapsed structure.

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"We currently have a paramedic team leader in a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance at the scene and our Hazardous Area Response Team are en route along with a further two ambulances.

"Our staff are currently assessing two patients – one with chest pains and one with a head injury – and the Fire Service are using their thermal imaging equipment to search the collapsed scaffolding."

Ben Bryant, who was working in the Thames Tower building close to the site, saw the chaos from the window of his office.

He said: "I saw a big cloud of dust come up, which was quite unusual because they [the contractors working on the site] usually control the dust quite well, and then when I looked over at the window I could see the scaffolding come down, and then within seconds there was a lot of police in the area closing off the road and sadly, attending to people who had been injured."

Thames Valley Police have cordoned off the area. 

A spokesperson said: "We are currently at the scene of a scaffold collapse in Garrards Street, Reading.

"Garrards Street is closed in both directions.

"Greyfriars Road is also congested
"Please avoid the area if possible."

John, a builder working on the site said:"I heard a rumble and the building just folded over and caved in, I saw an old lady walking and I think it just clipped her, she was taken away by an ambulance, it’s shook me."

The building that collapsed was being demolished to make way for housing developments for 538 homes. 

A spokesman from demolition contractors, McGee, said in a recent statement: "We can confirm there has been an incident today at one of our sites in Reading.

"We are investigating and will provide further updates when facts are available.” 

Inspector Jerusa Lyseight-Jones, based at Loddon Valley police station: “This is an ongoing incident, and we are continuing to support our colleagues from Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service and South Central Ambulance Service at the scene.

“I would like to thank the public for their patience while this incident is ongoing and would urge you to avoid the area while this incident is ongoing.”

More information to follow as we get it.