Fire risk flats in Scarborough closed

Privately-owned flats in Scarborough have been closed down by the local council after they were deemed to be a fire safety risk. Under special Emergency Prohibition powers, officials from Scarborough Borough Council closed down the property at 10 Cromwell Terrace after an inspection discovered numerous health and safety hazards including a lack of fire safety provisions and very dangerous electrics. Environmental Health officers described the property as one of the worst they had seen for a number of years.

Andrew Rowe, housing manager at Scarborough Borough Council, labelled the building as a "death trap". He said: "We only use our emergency closure powers as a last resort because of the upheaval caused to residents, however on this occasion we really had no choice. "It's simply not acceptable for landlords in the borough to rent out properties in such a poor state of repair." Residents of the flat, who were moved out on 13th January, are currently in emergency accommodation.