Company boss ordered to pay £130,000 for fire safety breaches

A business owner has been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service over £50,000 in costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of fire safety legislation.

Paul Ashley of P and S Ashley Timberworks appeared before Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 11 May 2010. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO).

The judge, Elgin Edwards, passed the following sentences in respect of the offences:

* £30,000 – lack of suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

* £20,000 – Failure to take suitable and sufficient preventative and protective measures.

* £30,000 – All other offences sentenced at the same level including lack of suitable fire alarm and unsuitable means of escape.

In addition, full costs of approximately £50,300 were ordered to be paid to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. The total sum of £130,300 is to be paid within three years by Mr Ashley.

The court heard that timber was found to have been piled high in the yard and combustible materials, including cylinders containing liquid petroleum, blocked escape routes. Various appliances were also found to have electrical faults. The court heard Ashley produced a risk assessment, but inspectors deemed it “inadequate”.

Mark Cashin, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“Fire safety is a key part of good business management and Mr Ashley showed little or no regard for the safety of his employees or the people living and working around his premises”.

“The action was brought against Mr Ashley after he repeatedly refused to carry out essential fire safety work on the business. This included the lack of a suitable fire alarm, unsuitable means of escape and the implementation of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. This was despite a number of visits by fire service personnel.”