Hotel company that ‘put lives at risk’ ordered to pay £16,500

A company operating a hotel in Penzance, Cornwall has been ordered to pay a total of £16,590 in fines and costs after the premises failed to meet fire safety regulations.

The company responsible for the Union hotel, Union and Western Hotels, was fined £12,000 after pleading guilty to four offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The fine was reduced from £18,000 to account for an early guilty plea.

The company was also ordered to pay £4,400 in costs and a victim surcharge of £190 when appearing before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court.

The offences related to failures in the fire safety standards identified by officers of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) following a fire safety inspection at the property in October 2020.

The inspection by the officers revealed:

• The fire detection and warning system fell short of the standard expected in a premises providing sleeping accommodation
• Fire safety provisions and compartmentation had not been adequately maintained
• The escape routes serving the sleeping accommodation were not adequately protected
• The fire risk assessment was not suitable and sufficient

The subsequent investigation by CFRS revealed that the company had failed to review the fire safety provisions at the premises and was served a restriction and enforcement notice.

The District Judge said that there had been significant failings in fire safety that went on for some considerable time and could potentially have caused significant harm. She added that, despite warnings from the alarm company, the faulty fire alarm was not rectified, and that the failings risked people's lives.

Councillor Martyn Alvey, the portfolio holder responsible for CFRS at Cornwall Council, said: “I’d like to thank the team who have worked hard to bring this prosecution. When people put others’ lives at risk, we will not hesitate to take action and prosecute where necessary.”

Kathryn Billing, chief fire officer at Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I urge all business to ensure they comply with fire regulations. These measures are in place to protect people and can ultimately save lives. It is not worth taking the risk.”