Hotel owner lands massive fine after fire (From Times Series)

Barnet hotel owner lands massive fine after fire

1:39pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Hannah Raven

A Barnet man has landed a £210,000 fine after his hotel set fire four years ago.

Michael Wilson, director of The Chumleigh Lodge Hotel in Nether Street, Finchley was charged with 12 offences under the Fire Safety Order after the blaze in 2008.

Three people were forced to flee the burning building as the fire quickly spread from a first floor bedroom to the floor above.

Following the incident safety inspectors found some bedrooms were not fitted with smoke alarms and the hotel also had defective fire doors and blocked escape routes.

Wilson was unable to produce a sufficient fire risk assessment and had not provided staff with adequate fire safety training.

He pleaded not guilty to the 12 offences and was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday, February 6. Chumleigh Lodge Hotel Limited was fined £30,000 and Wilson was fined £180,000.

The defendants were also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £50,000 and compensation of £2,000 to a hotel guest who had to escape through a second floor window.

Chairman of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Councillor Brian Coleman said: “This verdict sends out a clear message that if these responsibilities are ignored we will not hesitate in prosecuting and they will face serious penalties.”

The case is believed to be the first in which a jury has convicted a defendant under the Fire Safety Order. The order states that employers are required by law to carry out a fire risk assessment and act on its findings.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Although the majority of buildings are managed well in regard to fire, there are still too many buildings that do not have an adequate fire risk assessment.”