Trading estate landlord fined for breaching building control regulations
This news article was published more than a year ago. Some of the information may no longer be accurate.
Published: 31/08/2016
The landlord of a trading estate in Kingswood has been fined thousands of pounds for breaching a number of regulations, including fire safety.
Allan Dykes, of Durley Lane, Keynsham submitted a guilty plea to five offences which were dealt with during a hearing at North Avon Magistrates’ Court on Friday 26 August.
He has to pay a total of £13,000, a victim surcharge of £120 and more than £2,300* costs to the council.
We were alerted to the case by Avon Fire & Rescue Service after they visited the Bridge Road trading estate to carry out a routine fire safety audit in February. At the time, they reported concerns to us about evidence of people sleeping at one of the units, which is illegal. Housing colleagues were alerted and after consultation with the building control team agreed action would be pursued through the building control process.
During several months of investigation, council officers working in collaboration with Avon Fire & Rescue Service uncovered evidence that confirmed breaches of building regulations. Dykes was later charged with five offences under the Building Regulations Act 2010. Offences relate to not making reasonable provision to ensure adequate fire precautions were in place including a lack of fire alarm and emergency lighting. He had also failed to adequately sub-divide the walls in the industrial unit which is a necessary precaution to help prevent a fire spreading to different rooms.
Environment and Community Service Committee lead member for planning, Cllr Colin Hunt, said: “Working in partnership with colleagues at Avon Fire & Rescue Service, we have been able to successfully prosecute the land owner for these serious breaches of building control regulations. Anyone renting out a business premises should make sure they have adequate fire prevention precautions in place to avoid putting anyone’s life at risk. We hope this case will help raise awareness among people who are considering renting any new business premises to check that building regulations have been obtained by the owner.
“For advice and guidance on how to carry out these checks, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/buildingcontrol or email building.control@southglos.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can contact our building control team by calling 01454 868004.”
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