London Fire Brigade report – Two jailed after Wood Green pub declared ‘potential death trap’
Astonishing report just issued by the Fire Brigade:
“The former manager and leaseholder of a Wood Green public house have been jailed for nearly six months for breaking fire safety laws following a successful prosecution by the Brigade. “
The Manager and the Leaseholder of Royal Oak, were each handed custodial sentences of 24 weeks after pleading guilty to eight offences under the
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
“Our fire safety inspecting officers were alerted by Haringey Council that The Prince of Wales, at 1 Finsbury Road, was being used as an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and that they had concerns about fire safety.”
On 14 November 2011, a joint inspection was carried out by a Brigade fire safety inspector and the council.
Following the visit, our inspectors raised a number of fire safety concerns including:
- Inadequate fire detection
- Compromised escape routes
- Defective fire doors
- Inadequate fire separation between the staircase and kitchen
- No staff training records
- Disabled smoke alarms in the building’s corridor, kitchen, and a number of bedrooms
- A motorbike containing petrol in one of the bedrooms
- No emergency fire plan in place
- No fire risk assessment for the premises had been carried out
To read more of this London Fire Brigade report click here
London Fire Risk Assessments Advice: Coincidently we have been involved with a similar Premise under the same circumstances but we were engaged at an early enough time so as to be able to help the Responsible Persons in satisfying the requirements of both Prohibition and Enforcement Notices. By working together and liaising with the Fire Authority and the local Authority we were able to assist in the lifting of the Prohibition Notices so that the Building could be used to its full potential. We were able to satisfy the requirements in relation to the Enforcement Notice. We ensured that the Building could be used safely and so that the Responsible Person could maintain and exhibit a level of Fire Safety Management so as to avoid any further enforcement actions. They did not incur any monetary fines and were not prosecuted.
If you are in a similar situation perhaps in relation to London Night Clubs, Pubs, Bars and any premise with mixed use the earlier you show due diligence and seek professional help the less likely it will be that serious punitive action will be considered Call us now to discuss how we can help you 01689 890879