Sandbach Company Boss Fined For Safety Breach (From Crewe Guardian)

Sandbach Company Boss Fined For Safety Breach

12:42pm Wednesday 12th May 2010

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THE owner of a Sandbach company has been fined £80,000 after pleading guilty to serious breaches of fire safety legislation.

Paul Ashley of P and S Ashley Timberworks of Norton Way, Sandbach, was also ordered to pay Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service more than £50,000 in costs.

He appeared before Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, when he pleaded guilty to eight counts of breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The Recorder of Chester Elgin Edwards fined Ashley £30,000 for the lack of ‘suitable and sufficient risk assessment’ and £20,000 for the ‘failure to take suitable and sufficient preventative and protective measures’.

He was further fined a total of £30,000 for six other offences, including the lack of a suitable fire alarm and unsuitable means of escape.

Mark Cashin, deputy chief fire officer for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This is an excellent result.

“Fire safety is a key part of good business management and Mr Ashley showed little or no regard for the safety of his employees or the people living and working around his premises.”

The action was brought against Ashley after he repeatedly refused to carry out essential fire safety work on the business.

This was despite a number of visits by fire service personnel.

Chairman of the Fire Authority, Councillor David Topping said: "Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service will continue to take action when businesses, large or small, do not take their fire safety responsibilities seriously.

"Our aim is always to work closely with local companies giving them all the support and guidance they need to ensure the safety of both their staff and their customers, but failure to comply with the law can, as this case has shown, result in a prosecution.”

In summing up Judge Edwards focused on the seriousness and the outcome should a fire have occurred.

He also praised the prosecution and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service for the quality of work in the case and the preparation, going on to mention the benefit of this work to protect the community.

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