Date: 02/10/2008
At Buxton Magistrates court, on Friday, September 26, 2008, John Lowe -- trading as Plumb Electrical -- was fined £2,237 for carrying out unsafe electrical works.
Lowe pleaded guilty to four charges, brought against him by High Peak Building Control, under Part P of the Building Regulations.
The Magistrates said that the potential for harm was serious, and they considered that Lowe should not have activated the system, knowing that it was not safe.
Linda Baldry, Executive Councillor for Planning, said: "The Building Control service is there to protect the health and safety of the public, and will deal seriously with builders who flout the Building Regulations and good working practice. High Peak Borough Council will work with other agencies, where breaches of safety regulations are found, and in this case, action is also being considered under trading standards."
Jeremy Toone, Business Manager for Building Control, said: "The Building Regulations have been extended, in recent years, to cover most types of alterations to properties. With the advent of the Home Information Packs (HIPs), there is a need to be able to provide independent certification for any work, covered by the Building Regulations. The additional areas of works, now covered by the Building Regulations, relate to thermal insulation, such as replastering walls or replacing roof coverings."
Residents who would like to carry out work in their homes, are advised to look at the Building Control pages on our website at www.highpeak.gov.uk/planning/buildingcontrol/, or call the Building Control section on 0845 129 7777, to check whether the work that they, or their builders are carrying out, needs an application and is safe.