Teignmouth hotel closed by emergency services
The Bay hotel in Teignmouth, Devon, has been closed temporarily following a string of incidents involving the emergency services over the last month.
Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service issued a notice last week to prevent guests staying at the 18-bedroom property, owned by former barrister Shirley Bothroyd, after a shower was left running and three ceilings collapsed. It is the latest in a series of events which has resulted in the intervention of Teignbridge District Council, in addition to the emergency services.
On 11 July Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service was called when the penthouse suite of the hotel caught fire. The room and its contents were severely damaged. Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life by Devon and Cornwall police.
Emergency services were called to the hotel five days later following reported concerns for the welfare of a resident.
A spokesperson for Teignbridge District Council said: "We are considering making an application for a closure order on this hotel. If we can avoid using that tactic then we will. There have been concerns expressed about the hotel by the community. A number of options are being considered with regards to trying to deal with that, one of those options is engaging with Shirley as the owner to address those concerns and hopefully work with her to put matters right.
"We're doing all we can to engage and if that doesn't work, the closure order is something that we will consider and make an application to the magistrates for if we don't get a satisfactory outcome."
The police or the council officer apply to a magistrate's court for a closure order if they are satisfied on reasonable grounds that the use of particular premises has resulted, or is likely to result, in nuisance to members of the public. Should the court grant a closure order, the premises would be closed for up to three months, and accessible to authorised persons only.
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