Flats flout fire regs
Flats closed down due to fire safety hazards 27 April 2012
A block of flats has been closed down because of dangerous conditions including a defective fire detection and alarm system.
The privately owned flats at Beulah Terrace, Scarborough were closed earlier this month using an emergency prohibition order under section 43 of the Housing Act 2004.
The fire safety hazards found were an inoperable fire detection and warning system, emergency lighting that had been disconnected, and disrepair of structural fire separation.
Other hazards found were that the property wasn’t secure against unauthorised entry and was actually being used by non-residents for drug taking and drinking.
Scarborough Borough Council’s senior environmental health officer, Gary Pickering, said:
“Upon discovering the state of this property, we had no alternative but to use our authoritative emergency closure powers to shut this property in order to safeguard residents and those visiting the property as well as those occupying neighbouring properties. It is fortunate that no-one has been severely injured or even killed as a result of the neglected state of this property.”
The council says it is considering further legal action. Emergency accommodation and support has been provided to the tenants of the flats.
The council has had to close another four properties recently which all had fire safety hazards present.
