Trial over retirement complex blaze begins
Beechmere retirement village in Crewe, which housed about 150 residents, was destroyed by a fire on 8 August 2019.
The case relates to failings in the design, risk assessment, management and maintenance of the complex.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service initially pursued six firms, but has since ceased action against two of them.
No evidence was offered against WSP UK Limited according to a court representative, while the fire service said six charges against MAC Roofing Ltd were dismissed.
About 150 people lived at the retirement complex in Crewe [Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service]
The service said it was now pursuing a total of 14 charges against the remaining four companies – all of whom have pleaded not guilty.
They firms involved are:
Avantage (Cheshire) Ltd – a subsidiary of Your Housing Ltd which was contracted to procure the design, build and finance of Beechmere and operate the village.
Your Housing Ltd – employed staff at Beechmere and was responsible for fire safety measures at the site.
Morgan Sindall Property Services Ltd – the facilities management subcontractor to Avantage with responsibility for repairs and maintenance.
Total Fire Group Ltd – contracted to carry out fire risk assessments in August 2017 and August 2018 at Beechmere.
The trial at Chester Crown Court is expected to last between eight and 10 weeks.
Read more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Related internet links
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Local officers to remain in Brierley Hill as new home for police base announced
POLICE are set to remain in Brierley Hill after a new home for a police base in the area has been announced. Brierley Hill Police Station, which currently serves as the Dudley Police headquarters, has been listed for closure since 2018. The news of the closure of the station caused concern it would lead to a lack of police provision in the area, with the base being replaced by the new Castlegate Police Station in Dudley, which is currently under construction. However, on Friday (July 4) the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, revealed that the Brierley Hill neighbourhood teams will remain in Brierley Hill, at a new permanent base at Cable Plaza near the Waterfront. The new site, half a mile from the current police station, will house two neighbourhood policing teams when Brierley Hill police station closes in the autumn. PCC Simon Foster said: 'I have been working hard to deliver on my pledge, that Dudley will have its own new police station and I am pleased to see the progress being made to deliver on my pledge. 'The new police station will be fit for 21st century policing, and it will become Dudley Police's Headquarters. 'It will be a base for the local neighbourhood policing teams, for response and it will have a front contact office that the public can attend, speak to a police officer and report crime. 'I am also pleased to announce, that we have secured a new police base for the Brierley Hill neighbourhood police teams, that will be fit for 21st century policing. 'I am committed to re-building community policing, to prevent and tackle crime and keep people, families, businesses and the local community safe and secure.' West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: 'The geographic location of the new police station [in Dudley] will help us to respond in an efficient manner, while co-locating with the council at Cable Plaza in Brierley Hill is good news for the taxpayer and helps us build effective working relationships.' Chief Superintendent Anthony Tagg, the commander for Dudley local policing area, added: 'We'll be sad to leave the old Brierley Hill station but the reality is, the site is not fit for purpose and refurbishing it does not make economic sense. 'Our hard-working police officers deserve better and so do the victims and witnesses who come into the building. 'The new Castlegate site will have the latest victim care facilities and a new public contact office so that we can get the best possible evidence from people. 'Importantly, our new Brierley Hill base is in a fantastic location that strengthens joint working.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Government to ban 'appalling' non-disclosure agreements that 'silence' victims of abuse at work
Victims of bullying and abuse at work will no longer have to "suffer in silence", the government has said, as it pledges to ban controversial non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Accusers of Harvey Weinstein, the former film producer and now convicted sex offender, are among many in recent years who had to breach such agreements in order to speak out about what they had endured. As Labour seeks to boost workers' protections, its ministers have suggested an extra section in the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill that would void NDAs designed to stop employees from going public about harassment or discrimination. The government said this would allow victims to come forward about their situation rather than remain "stuck in unwanted situations, through fear or desperation". Zelda Perkins, Weinstein's former assistant and founder of Can't Buy My Silence UK, said the changes would mark a "huge milestone" in combatting the "abuse of power". She added: "This victory belongs to the people who broke their NDAs, who risked everything to speak the truth when they were told they couldn't. Without their courage, none of this would be happening." Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said the government had "heard the calls from victims of harassment and discrimination" and was taking action to prevent people from having to "suffer in silence". An NDA is a broad term that describes any agreement that restricts what a signatory can say about something, originally intended to protect commercially sensitive information. But "many high profile cases" have revealed NDAs being manipulated to prevent people "speaking out about horrific experiences in the workplace", the government said. The updated bill, if passed, would also mean witnesses can also publicly support without the threat of being sued. Announcing the amendments, employment minister Justin Madders said: "The misuse of NDAs to silence victims of harassment or discrimination is an appalling practice that this government has been determined to end." The bill is currently in the House of Lords, where it will be debated on 14 July, before going on to be discussed by MPs as well.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man accused of cutting BBC radio transmitter cable
A man accused of cutting the cables of five JT mobile phone masts and the BBC Radio Jersey Medium Wave transmitter has appeared before a magistrate. Mariusz Symanski, 44, was charged with causing malicious damage. Magistrate Bridget Shaw said the allegations were too serious for the court to deal with and ordered Mr Symanski to appear at the Royal Court on 5 September. Mr Symanski was remanded in custody until then. More news stories for Jersey Listen to the latest news for Jersey Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Jersey Court Service
