Pub boss admits fire safety breaches
APUB owner and leaseholder have been convicted of fire safety breaches which could have resulted in ‘risk of death or serious injury’.
It follows a fire at The Masons Arms pub on Burnley Road East in Waterfoot on August 4, 2017.
Natasha Taylor, who was the ‘responsible person’ and leaseholder of the pub, pleaded guilty at Burnley Crown Court to failing to maintain adequate fire separation between the ground floor and upper floor and failing to make suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments. She also admitted failing to ensure escape routes and exits could be used as quickly and safely as possible, and failing to provide emergency exits and emergency lighting of adequate intensity which could have placed one or more relevant persons at risk of death or serious injury in case of fire.
Derek Cunningham Bulling, who owned the premises and was responsible for the flats, pleaded guilty to failing to make suitable and sufficient risk assessments and failing to provide appropriate fire detectors and alarms which could have placed one or more relevant persons at risk of death or serious injury in case of fire.
Bulling, 56, of New Road, Laxey, Isle of Man, also pleaded guilty on behalf of his company Dek Properties Company Ltd to failing to provide locks on emergency doors that could be easily and immediately opened by a person in an emergency and failing to provide emergency exits and emergency lighting of adequate intensity which could have placed one or more relevant persons at risk of death or serious injury in case of fire. Warren Spencer, prosecuting, told the court the pleas were ‘acceptable to the crown’.
Taylor, 31, of Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, and Bulling were bailed to appear at Burnley Crown Court for sentence on February 23.
Judge Beverley Lunt ordered pre-sentence reports be prepared for the hearing.
After the hearing, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said it is believed the fire was caused by an ice machine. A spokesman said smoke damage was also caused to five selfcontained flats on the second floor and that two people were in the flats at the time of the fire and were only alerted by the smell of burning, but managed to leave the building safely. The fire service said inspection officers attended and inspected the premises and found ‘significant and serious contraventions of fire safety regulations’.