Hotel owner's gripe over fire safety prosecution

But Malcolm Weaving, owner of the 50-bed Stirk House Hotel at Gisburn, claimed in court that he had been "victimised" by the fire authority.

Blackburn magistrates gave Mr Weaving a conditional discharge after he admitted five offences relating to fire safety infringements. A number of other charges were dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.

Charges were also dropped against Mr Weaving's wife Karen and the hotel's former manager, David James Raistrick.

Frank Wastell, prosecuting for the fire authority, said a routine inspection had revealed serious contraventions of fire regulations in the staff quarters.

"The officer was extremely concerned for the safety of the occupants," he said.

However, Michael Blacklidge, defending, said the offences were relatively minor.

One charge related to a fire door which did not 'self-close' in a bedroom in the main hotel, and the other four related to the staff quarters. These included missing doors, corrosion on part of a guard rail and an obstruction on a fire escape.

Mr Blacklidge added that the faults were a legacy of the "shocking condition" of the staff quarters when Mr and Mrs Weaving took over the hotel in April last year.

The Weavings had since spent thousands of pounds improving the staff block and the hotel which dates from the 16th century.

Mr Weaving told the court that he had consulted Nigel Evans MP after being told he would be prosecuted and felt he was being "victimised".

Mr Blacklidge added: "From 1989 to 1996, for each year bar one, there were notices by the fire officer for works to be carried out but it would appear that previous owners were not prosecuted for it."

Mr Weaving was also ordered to pay £300 prosecution costs but defence costs of £587 were awarded to Mrs Weaving after the charges against her were dropped.

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