A shop owner whose premises were so dangerous they were temporarily shut down by the fire service has now been ordered to pay almost £6,000.
Suresh Sivarasa, proprietor of Premier, formerly known as CostCutter, in Cullompton, has admitted breaches of fire safety regulations and has been fined £2,133 and ordered to pay £3,668 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170.
Exeter Magistrates Court heard how Sivarasa's shop was inspected by Business Safety Officers of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service in June 2016 after fire safety concerns were raised by a local licensing officer.
The inspection revealed a number of deficiencies which included a lack of emergency escape lighting, the lack of a suitable alternative fire exit, inadequate fire detection and warning systems and breaches in the fire separation between the shop and the home above.
Because of the risk to people living above the shop an an emergency prohibition notice was served. This was withdrawn the next day after the installation of a temporary interlinked fire alarm system.
Sivarasa was then issued with an enforcement notice specifying the works required to bring the premises up to the required standard and a timescale in which to complete it.
In February 2017 officers re-inspected the premises and found the fire separation between the shop and residential accommodation had not been addressed, despite being given an extension of time.
Business Safety Manager Paul Bray said: “Failing to comply with an enforcement notice is a serious matter. The prosecution could have easily been avoided by appointing a competent person to carry out the remedial works required by the notice.”
Sivarasa pleaded guilty at Exeter Magistrates Court to breaching Article 30 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
