The owner of an equestrian yard in Bicester has been fined £5,000 for breaches of fire safety legislation that put lives in danger. The case was heard at Oxford Magistrates court on 2 January 2024.
Fire safety inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service visited the premises in October 2020, where they found that the business owner, Miss Isabelle Taylor, had failed to ensure there was an adequate risk assessment of fire, failed to protect escape routes in case of fire, and failed to provide a working fire alarm and detection system.
The equestrian yard was operating on the ground floor and had two flats provided for staff accommodation above on the first floor.
Following a fire at the site, a fire safety audit was conducted under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and inspectors found that the premises were so dangerous that they were left with no alternative but to prohibit the use of the building for sleeping until safety measures were improved.
Read the full story at Oxfordshire City Council
