Minister rejects fire safety bill

Torbay MP, Adrian Sanders has spoken of his anger at the Governments attempt to persuade him to drop his proposals for compulsory fire alarms in rented accommodation.

After 4 months of trying, Mr Sanders was finally offered a meeting with Fire Minister, Bob Neill if he agreed to withdraw his appeal.

Mr Saunders has vowed to continue his campaign which follows the deaths of 2 children in a house fire in Ellacombe in 2009. The rented house did not have fire alarms at the time of the blaze.

The Fire Minister has said that making wired in smoke alarms a legal requirement for rented properties would involve a significant cost, and doubted that the obligation was ‘properly and practicably enforceable’.

In regards to discussing the matter further with Mr Sanders, Mr Neill has said “We have not shut the Hon gentleman out of the department, and I greatly hope that he will take up the opportunity to meet me and discuss the matter further.”