Councillor says lack of fire risk reports for Welshpool buildings is ‘scary’

Former Welshpool Mayor and health and safety expert Cllr Nick Howells has criticised the Town Council for failing to provide adequate fire risk assessments for its buildings and sites.

Cllr Howells was responding to a fire risk inspection carried out by Mid and West Wales Fired and Rescue recently that exposed the shortfall, despite it being a legal requirement for 20 years.

Cllr Howells, who is also Chair of the Town Council’s Property and Services Committee, described the situation as “scary” and Town Clerk, Richard Williams, called for immediate action.

“I have to say, personally, I find it quite alarming that The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order has been around since 2005, and 20 years on we don’t have adequate fire risk assessments? I have to have that noted that I find that really scary, to be honest,” he told fellow councillors at this week’s full council meeting.

“We need (to bring) ourselves up to what the legal requirement is ASAP.”

Town Clerk Richard Williams advised councillors to skip the requirement for three quotes for the job as his research found there was only one local professional based in Newtown, with the others across the border.

Councillors agreed, paving the way for the work to be carried out as a matter of urgency.