Trading Standards officers in North Somerset have
pledged to keep holding businesses and individuals to account if
they break explosives and fireworks laws after a Clevedon company
was fined £15,000.
Firemagic Limited, formerly based at Kenn Court Business Park,
pleaded guilty to three counts of breaking explosive regulations,
including failing to comply with the conditions on their licence by
storing more explosives than they were allowed.
Andrew John Collins, of Wemberham Crescent, Yatton, was also
fined £300 at a sentencing hearing at Bristol Crown Court yesterday
(15 June) after pleading guilty to offences involving the failure
to take appropriate measures to limit the extent of fire or
explosion and the failure to protect persons from the effects of
fire or explosion.
He was also disqualified as a company director for five years
and disqualified from driving for six months.
He was a director of Firemagic Limited when a fire broke out in
October 2006. The blaze destroyed the buildings which housed
Firemagic Limited and two other businesses - Bristol Classic Cars
and Electrosheen. The latter ceased trading as a result of the
fire.
Three men who were working for Andrew Collins on the night of
the fire were hospitalised and treated for smoke inhalation after
trying to fight the flames.
It was later established that the company had exceeded its two
tonne explosive licence by at least three tonnes and that there was
a lack of appropriate safety measures.
Head of Environmental and Consumer Services Mandy Bishop is
responsible for North Somerset Trading Standards which led the
prosecution.
She said: "We are delighted with the outcome of this case. Our
main concern is to make sure companies and individuals meet their
legal responsibilities under firework regulations, so that their
employees and the people who live nearby are kept safe. This did
not happen in the case of Firemagic Limited and its director,
Andrew Collins.
"They finally pleaded guilty to a number of offences where they
were in breach of explosives licensing legislation.
"We will not permit a flagrant disregard of the law in North
Somerset and we will prosecute offenders who put profit ahead of
the safety of their employees and the public.
"We will continue to make sure that businesses or individuals
who ignore public safety will be held to account."
On passing sentence, Judge Lambert said Andrew Collins had
brought others to their knees but was not beyond the reach of the
law.
"Fireworks are explosives and the state is entitled to demand
compliance with legislation," he said. "Any breach of this has to
be taken seriously. There were significant and substantial breaches
of the regulations.
"The training of staff was inadequate and was putting lives at
risk and the damage to property was extreme and in excess of
£300,000."
