Willaston councillor charged with fire safety offences (From Crewe Guardian)

Willaston councillor charged with fire safety offences

11:46am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Matthew Taylor

Councillor for the Willaston and Rope ward, who was charged alongside his brother for fire safety offences

THE former mayor of Crewe and Nantwich, Brian Silvester, has being fined £45,000 for fire safety offences relating to a property he rented out.

Silvester, 60, of Shavington house Farm, Crewe Road, Shavington, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, October 23, alongside brother, Colin Silvester, 58, of Pinewood Crescent, Holcombe Brook, Bury.

The pair pleaded guilty to eleven fire safety offences and failing to obtain the necessary license for a house in multiple occupancy when they appeared at Crewe Magistrates in July.

The charges relate to rooms that were rented out as bedsits at Shavington House.

A former tenant of the property revealed he kept a hammer and length of rope in his room in order to escape through a window in case of fire.

Evidence attesting to the dangers of the rented rooms was also given by a spokesman from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Colin Silvester was fined £37,500 for the offences.

The pair were ordered to pay court costs of £22,000 by His Hon Judge Elgan Edwards.

It is understood that Brian Silvester will not be removed from his current position as the Conservative councillor for the Willaston and Rope ward.

A statement on behalf of the brothers said: “The background to this situation is that the Silvester family have had paying guests in their bedsits at Shavington in their family farmhouse home for nearly 40 years without anyone coming to any harm at all.”

The statement added: “We sincerely regret what has happened and would like to thank all those who have supported us through this very difficult period.”