Forres bed-and-breakfast owner raises fears over cost of fire rules

New regulations could force closure of some businesses, says 20-year industry veteran

By Eilidh Morrison

Published:

CONCERNED: Jacqui Banks, who is being forced to spend thousands to upgrade her premises. Gordon Lennox

A Forres bed-and-breakfast owner has hit out at the increasing financial burden of implementing new safety regulations.

New legislation was introduced in October 2006 that put the responsibility for fire risk assessments in B&Bs on to the owners.

They are also now expected to instal fire precautions that were previously re-quired only for proper- ties with more than six beds.

Jacqui Banks, who owns April Rise B&B at Forres, claims she learned about the new regulations only in April in a letter from Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, and believes the financial demands will cause many businesses to close.

To comply with regulations, she was advised to test all her electrical equipment, instal smoke alarms in every room and replace doors in her property with others that met the latest fire legislation.

Mrs Banks, who has worked in the industry for 20 years, said: “I will do anything in my power to keep my guests safe but we are talking thousands of pounds here.

“The tourist industry is so incredibly important to Scotland and the backbone to that is bed and breakfasts.”

A spokeswoman for Visit-Scotland said it had set up a series of workshops across the country to increase businesses’ awareness of new fire regulations.

She said: “Following the introduction of the new fire regulations in 2006, fire inspections are no longer conducted. Instead, it is up to every business to carry out a self-assessment.

It is outwith VisitScotland's remit to comment on regulatory issues such as this, although we recognise that they pose a problem for some small businesses in Scotland.”