Former Mayor pleads guilty to fire safety charges (From Crewe Guardian)

Former Mayor pleads guilty to fire safety charges

7:00am Friday 27th July 2012 in News By Matthew Taylor

CHESHIRE East councillor Brian Silvester has pleaded guilty to fire safety offences and renting out a property without a license.

The former Mayor of Crewe and Nantwich appeared at South Cheshire Magistrates Court in Crewe on Monday charged with failing to acquire a license necessary for a house in multiple occupation under the Housing Act 2004.

The Conservative councillor for the Willaston and Rope ward also pleaded guilty to 11 charges of putting residents at ‘risk of death or serious injury’ under the Fire Safety Order 2005 by failing to ensure appropriate fire detectors were fitted to properties.

The charges relate to properties he rents out as bedsits at his home of Shavington House Farm, 199 Crewe Road.

The building was shut down after the fire service declared it a safety risk in January and tenants moved into temporary accommodation.

Clr Silvester, 60, appeared alongside his brother, Colin Silvester, of Pinewood Crescent, Holcombe Brook, Bury, who pleaded guilty to the same charges.

The pair have been committed to Chester Crown Court for sentencing. A sentencing date has not yet been announced.

Mr Silvester has been a councillor for 35 years, and is a former deputy leader of the council.

He was suspended from the Conservative party in April when prosections were brought against him jointly by Cheshire East Council and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

A spokesman for Cheshire East Council said it would be ‘inappropriate’ to comment on the matter while Clr Silvester’s fate was still in the hands of the courts.