ALMO to pay out £77k after prosecution over collapsed walkway

The Health and Safety Executive has prosecuted a council arm’s-length housing management organisation over a collapsed walkway.

Resident Andrew Bleasedale narrowly avoided potential serious injury or death when he was standing on a second floor walkway that collapsed.

He was able to jump into his flat – owned by Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) – and looked back to see the walkway disappear.

The HSE prosecuted BCH after an investigation found it had known the walkways were dangerous for several years, but had failed to rectify faults.

BCH was fined £50,000 at Preston Crown Court and was ordered to pay £27,821.25 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

BCH, which manages homes for Blackpool Borough Council, took over responsibility for the flats in January 2007, but it failed to carry out any repairs despite senior staff being aware of the problem having transferred to it from the council along with their files and records, the court was told.

A structural engineer recommended temporary propping in September 2008, but this was also not done.

Work to replace some balconies began in May 2012, when a site manager reported concerns that all balconies in the Newby Place flats might be unsafe, but BCH yet again failed to act, the HSE said.

The court was also told that BCH misled the watchdog about its knowledge of the structural flaws that led to the collapse.

HSE Inspector Michael Mullen said: “The emergency services had to rescue several people from their properties as a result of the collapse, but it’s incredible no one was hurt. We could easily have been dealing with multiple deaths.

“It’s breathtaking that Blackpool Coastal Housing was prepared to take a prolonged gamble with the safety of its tenants at three blocks of flats.”

BCH chief executive John Donnellon, who was not in office at the time of the offence, said: “Mistakes were made which left our tenants in a vulnerable position. Thankfully no-one was injured but I am fully aware how much worse the situation could have been.

“The mistakes and failings that led to this incident have been fully investigated and the all systems relating to property maintenance have been completely overhauled. “

The council’s cabinet member for housing Gillian Campbell said: “Blackpool Coastal Housing has, quite rightly, pleaded guilty to these charges. There is no denying or hiding from the fact that mistakes were made.”

Mark Smulian