The owner of a Bed and Breakfast in Looe has been ordered to pay a total of £8,567 in fines and costs after his premises failed to meet fire safety regulations.
The owner of the premises was fined £3840 (reduced from £5760 to account for his early guilty plea) after pleading guilty to three offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Mr David Riella, the joint owner of Deganwy Bed and Breakfast, Looe, was also ordered to pay £4537 in costs and a victim surcharge of £190 when he appeared before Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on 26 April 2022.
The offences related to failures in the fire safety standards identified by officers of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service following a fire at the property in June 2021.
The inspection by the officers revealed:
- The fire detection and warning system fell short of the standard expected in a premises providing sleeping accommodation
- The escape routes serving the sleeping accommodation were not adequately protected
- There was a lack of emergency escape lighting
- A fire risk assessment had not been carried out
The subsequent investigation by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service revealed that Mr Riella had failed to review the fire safety provisions at the premises and was served with an enforcement notice.
Chief Fire Officer, Kathryn Billing said “Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service’s vision is working together to make people safer, and wherever possible we want to work with local business owners to ensure they have the right fire safety advice and understand their responsibilities in keeping their guests and visitors safe. However, when premises do not comply and we believe the public are at risk, we will take action to enforce fire safety regulations.”
The Council’s portfolio holder for environment and public protection, Martyn Alvey said: “The safety of residents and visitors to Cornwall is crucial. This is a reminder to all owners of sleeping accommodation premises that, regardless of the number of bedrooms and irrespective of the letting arrangements which may include less formal online arrangements such as Airbnb, they are required to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This means they must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and ensure that all fire safety provisions are adequate and regularly maintained.”
Story posted 03 May 2022
