Travelodge fined over health and safety breaches

Travelodge has been fined a total of £70,000 following a series of breaches of safety regulations.

The company pleaded guilty before Cambridge Crown Court to five breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The case was brought by Mid Bedfordshire District Council following two accidents in bathrooms.

The cases were investigated when inspectors visited a Travelodge at Marston Moretaine and found, following an investigation of records, that the cases has not been reported to them, as legally they should  have been.

Both incidents involved guests slipping in the bath. In one incident the guest had to be taken to hospital.

The prosecution said that corrective action in the bathrooms was not taken for up to two years following the incidents.

Evidence was given to the court that each bath could have been resurfaced for about £30.

In mitigation it was said that the situation had now been fully rectified by Travelodge.

The company was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 in costs.

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By Andrew Smith

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