Blackpool hotel owner sentenced for fire safety failings that could have seen 'widespread loss of life'

The owner of a hotel on Blackpool's Promenade has been handed a nine-month suspended prison sentence after he continued to welcome guests despite being closed by officials over fire safety concerns.

Alan Diamond, owner of the Cornhill Hotel, was sentenced almost two years after Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) first received complaints of issues with fire alarms at the property.

A further complaint was received in August 2018 and subsequently inspectors found the fire alarm was switched off while guests were staying in the property.

In response LFRS banned the hotel from accepting guests, stating that no one should enter the property other than to undertake remedial fire safety works.

However, Diamond continued to advertise the hotel and LFRS identified three separate occasions where paying guests stayed at the property.

Mark Hutton, fire protection group manager for LFRS said: "These were extremely serious fire safety failings which, had a fire occurred in the hotel, were highly likely to have led to widespread loss of life, serious injuries and potentially far-reaching damage to the wider community and reputation of Blackpool as a safe place to visit and stay."

In court Diamond had pleaded guilty to a number of fire safety offences.

Main image: Shutterstock. Hotel picture: Google