A Cheshire-based builder has been fined after health and safety issues were discovered at a building site in Greater Manchester.

Peter Lawrence, of Kingsway, Altrincham pleaded guilty at Trafford Magistrates Court to breaching Regulations 13(2) and 41(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and two breaches of Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

He was charged with two counts of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice, one count of failing to provide adequate fire fighting and fire alarm equipment on site and one count of failing to plan, manage and monitor construction work so that it was carried out in a safe manner.

He was also fined £8,000 with £4,802 costs and a victim surcharge of £120.

Former teacher Mr Lawrence was carrying out the conversion of a former butchers into three apartments in Altrincham.

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The project involved redeveloping the ground floor shop and two upper floors into apartments.

He was in control of all construction works and acted as builder and project manager, employing numerous trades and labourers on site throughout the refurbishment.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the site following a complaint about possible asbestos disturbance in November 2013.

A number of HSE inspectors made three visits between November 2013 and April 2014.

A number of issues were identified during the visits including unsafe work at height, unsafe scaffolding, issues relating to asbestos, fire safety failings, unsafe electric supply, a lack of welfare facilities and safety equipment.

Inspectors issued three Prohibition Notices and four Improvement Notices, along with two Notifications of Contravention during the visits.

Trafford Magistrates' Court heard that some of the issues had been dealt with by Mr Lawrence following HSE's notices.

However, he had failed to comply with two Improvement Notices regarding fire safety on the site.

HSE Inspector Matt Greenly said: "Enforcement Notices are served by Inspectors where there is a serious risk which needs to be better managed, in this case fire safety. By Mr Lawrence repeatedly ignoring these Notices he has undoubtedly put the lives of his own workers and subcontractors at risk from fire, as well as the lives of his neighbours and passers-by.

"Given the range of serious breaches identified over a very short period of time, and on a relatively small construction project, it is very fortunate that nobody was injured or even killed while working on this site."

(LM/CD)