On 18 March 2015, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service successfully prosecuted landlord Stuart De’Ath, following an inspection of his premises in Lytham St Anne’s by fire safety enforcement officers from St Anne’s Fire Station and housing officers from Fylde Borough Council. As a result of their inspection, Mr De’Ath was issued with Prohibition Notices to improve fire safety in the buildings.
Three St Anne’s premises contained breaches under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, at 157 St Annes Road East (a three-storey detached property), 10 St Georges Square and 10 Beach Road (both three-storey end-terraced properties). The three premises were subdivided into a total of 19 flats.
Magistrates at Blackpool Magistrates Court deferred the sentencing of Mr De’Ath, who had pleaded guilty to the 18 charges, until 25 March when he was fined a total of £72,000, and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £8,700 and a victim surcharge of £120.
The Fire Safety Order breaches in all three premises were as follows: no fire risk assessment; inadequate fire separation throughout all premises; inadequate means of giving warning in case of fire; inadequate provision of emergency lighting; and an inadequate fire evacuation procedure. 0ther breaches included combustible materials on the means of escape and incorrect fastenings on a final exit door.