Crowborough pub closed for second time due to fire risk
The Crowborough Cross pub in Crowborough has been closed for the second time in just 3 months after it was condemned by fire chiefs.
Crowborough fire station commander said: “Following a joint inspection with Sussex Police and Wealden District Council licensing, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service identified several fire safety contraventions at the premises and issued a formal notice restricting the use of the premises. Further enforcement action was to follow, but the owners of the pub have made the decision to close.”
It is not known whether the pub owners will sell the business or refurbish the property in order to meet the required safety requirements.
Emma Welch, who runs the pub said she is keen to transform the pub. Ms Welch said: “I’m awaiting movement from Punch Taverns over what they intend to do with the pub. I’m currently the tenant but Punch will decide before Christmas whether they will keep the site and invest heavily in it, or whether they will sell it on the open market. I would rather buy the freehold, although if this is made available there is likely to be competition from big companies like Wetherspoons to get the site. I really believe in this site. The Cross is the beacon of Crowborough.”
A spokesperson for the Punch Taverns said: “We are working with all parties involved to address any highlighted issues. It is our priority to keep our pubs open and trading and we will look to reopen as soon as possible.”
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that you:
‘must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed’
This means that all companies as a first point in their Fire Safety must complete a Fire Risk Assessment. This must be carried out by a competent person, who is trained to perform risk assessments. Your Fire Training needs, your fire extinguisher needs and any other fire safety related issues you will need to address will be highlighted from the Fire Risk Assessment.
Our team of experienced and qualified Fire Risk Assessors will perform a full Fire Risk Assessment of your premises, and provide you with a comprehensive document detailing the risks found and recommendations to minimise the risks.
Our Fire Risk Assessment is divided into nine separate areas:
- Fire safety administration
- Fire fighting facilities
- Identifying fire hazards
- Fire routine and test procedure
- Means of escape
- Review procedures
- Staff/people at risk
- Arson prevention check list
- Fire warning facilities
When you have a Fire Risk Assessment, you must review this to ensure that everything is still in order. For example, you have a reshuffle of departments and your trained Fire Wardens are all moved onto the same floor of the building so more are required to cover the other floors, or you may have an extension built on your building. You may not even have had any changes in personnel or building, but it is essential that you review the Fire Risk Assessment anyway! We provide a service to review your Fire Risk Assessments for you, whether completed by ourselves or not.
Man dies in Brighton house fire
A man has died after a fire tore through a disused building in Brighton.
Around 40 firefighters attended the incident at a building in Upper Bedford Street in Kemp Town at around 3.45am on 28th November.
A spokesperson confirmed that a 48 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson.
A spokesperson for East Sussex Fire and Rescue said: “We’re working with police to investigate. Some crew still remain at the scene.”
It is not yet known how the fire was started.
£21,000 fine for fire safety breach chip shop owner
The owner of the Beach Break Cafe fish and chip shop in Brighton has been found guilty of breaching fire safety regulations.
Ms Coull who owns the café was fined £21,000 after pleading guilty to breaching 6 fire safety regulations. The case was heard at Brighton Magistrates Court.
The breaches were discovered after a fire broke out in the property in 2011. The cafe had no emergency lighting and only one domestic standard smoke alarm, which was not working properly. A fire risk assessment had not been carried out in the property and staff had not been given any fire safety training.
Richard Fowler from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “The public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety legislation very seriously.”
Family escape to roof after tumble drier catches fire
A family of 3 had to escape onto the roof of their home in East Sussex after a tumble drier caught fire.
Three crews from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service attended the incident at the Royal Oak Inn, near Hastings at approximately 2.45am on Thursday morning. On arrival they found two adults and a child on the roof of the building.
The family were thankfully alerted to the fire quickly when the smoke alarms sounded.
A spokesperson for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service told The Argus: “It was only a small fire in the tumble drier but three people had to be rescued from the roof. There was a lot of smoke in the building below so they couldn’t get down so they climbed onto the roof.”
No one was injured in the fire.