Chlorine leak gym receives fire safety enforcement notice
A fire safety enforcement notice has been served on a spa and health club just weeks after customers attended hospital following a chemical leak.Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) visited Clifford Health Club and Spa in Regent Street, Long Eaton, in January 2025. The fire service issued an enforcement notice on 3 February, with concerns including risk assessment, emergency routes, exits and training. Erewash Borough Council has told the BBC an investigation after the chemical leak at the club on 7 January is ongoing.
The statutory notices are issued by fire and rescue authorities when they find a serious risk that is not being managed.They say what improvements are needed and by when.Individuals could be fined or go to prison if they do not follow fire safety regulations.Minor penalties can be up to £5,000.Major penalties can have unlimited fines and prison sentences of up to two years.The enforcement notice has been published on the National Fire Chiefs Council's Enforcement Register.It relates to the following sections of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005:Duty to take general fire precautionsRisk assessmentPrinciples of prevention to be appliedEmergency routes and exitsProcedures for serious and imminent danger and for danger areasSafety assistanceProvision of information to employeesTrainingIn response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the BBC, DFRS has confirmed it holds three fire safety letters between it and Clifford's health Club and Spa.But it has refused to release the correspondence, claiming it contains personal data, would adversely affect public safety and disclosure would "harm the confidentiality of commercial or industrial information".The BBC has appealed against the refusal.
Enid Hollingworth, 71, from Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, was one of those taken to hospital after January's chemical leak.She told the BBC she feared for her life after being exposed to a leak of chlorine while using the swimming pool and spa.Two other women, who also attended hospital, spoke to the BBC and criticised the staff on how they dealt with the incident.
A spokesperson for DFRS said: "Following an incident or false alarm at any premises regulated under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, our protection department will engage with the responsible person."This can include carrying out a fire safety audit to ensure compliance with legislation."DFRS would not confirm whether the audit was a result of January's chemical incident.The BBC has contacted Clifford Health Club and Spa for comment.
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