Lib Dems want St John's Road fire to change Council's policy

2.55.00pm GMT Thu 29th Nov 2007

Liberal Democrat ward Councillors in Brunswick & Adelaide want the recent fire in St John's Road to lead to a change of Brighton & Hove City Council's planning policy to help avoid similar fires in the future.

The devastating fire spread quickly from a garage workshop area upto a residential unit, raising serious questions as to the suitability of residential property so close to light industrial workshops.

Brunswick & Adelaide Councillor Paul Elgood has tabled a letter on the issue to Thursday's Policy & Resources meeting of the City Council, he said: 'Anyone who witnessed the fire in St John's Road will have been taken aback as to how quickly the fire spread. Without commenting on this as a specific case, what this does highlight is that the City Council's planning policies do not tackle these concerns when new Mews workshops are being granted.

'We want to see the Council develop a new Supplementary Planning Document under the new Local Development Framework, which tackles this kind of issue and also wider issues related to these mix use Mews, including, related issues such as environmental health consideration and indeed fire precautions.

'We are also asking questions as to the inspection and monitoring of such mix use building.

'As ward councillors we have raised these issues before, and so have local residents. In many ways this could have happened at any time, and we want the Council and the other authorities to learn from it so that where possible future instances are avoided. We believe that there is another accident waiting to happen and the Council needs to act urgently.'

Letter to P&R Committee Attached:

Dear Chief Executive

'Fire in St John's Road and safety issues in Mews which have garages and residential in close proximity.'

Under procedural rule 19.3, I would like to request that this letter is placed on the agenda of the November 29th Policy & Resources meeting. The issue I raise is urgent in nature (this being the only opportunity to raise these matters until January) and cross departmental / service (including Fire) in response.

Members will be aware of the devastating fire in St John's Road, Hove on the 8th November 2007. Luckily, on this occasion there were no fatalities, however, the events act as a timely reminder of issues relating to the mix uses of these Mews. Residents and ward Councillors have in the past raised a series of issues concerning the mixed uses of such roads, including environmental health concerns, fears over health and safety and indeed as in this case the risk of fire from the operations carried out in close proximity to residential amenity. Whilst I do not intend to comment here on this particular case, I believe there are a number of over-riding issues which the Council should be addressing.

I would like to seek clarification as to what routine inspections are undertaken of residential properties in close proximity to such workshops? Issues such as effective fire precautions, clear exits, maintained alarm systems and indeed those relating to environmental health need to be properly monitored by the authorities. Considering the nature of the business operating in this particular building, when, for example, was any kind of inspection, either from the Council or Fire Service, last carried out?

I would also like to seek clarification of policies allowing such usages close to residential homes, and whilst I am happy to acknowledge that the mix provides for a vibrant area and a strong economy, it also raises significant issues for the residents living there. The 2005 Local Plan policy EM11 'Mews - mixed uses', for example, seeks to protect the mixed nature of such mews, however, does nothing to address issues around environmental health and indeed these safety issues. I would therefore like to propose that a specific Supplementary Planning Document is developed for inclusion under the new Local Development Framework, for such mix used streets.

In conclusion, I would also like to express thanks to the Fire service for a speedy response. Additionally, the council's Housing officers were excellent in meeting requests for their assistance too, for which I am grateful.

I believe that an initial discussion at P&R will enable the early clarification of the current situation. I would subsequently be happy to take up the issues and proposal in more detail either within the context of a report to the relevant committee or in discussion with the appropriate officer in the New Year.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Paul Elgood