A cinema director in St Albans has been fined after failing to manage the risk of asbestos during refurbishment work.

James Hannaway, 68, of Waterside, Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and to breaching Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and Regulation 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

He was fined £11,660 with £7,000 in costs.

Mr Hannaway, the sole director of The Alpha Cinema (St Albans) Limited, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after he allowed refurbishment of the derelict multiscreen cinema to go ahead in 2010 without proper checks for asbestos.

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Stevenage Magistrates' Court heard that Mr Hannway went on to engage around 30 members of the public to remove the debris from the demolition work over the course of two days in 2012.

An asbestos survey was eventually carried out in October 2012 which identified the presence of asbestos in the building, after the debris had been removed.

The survey recommended no-one enter the affected areas. However, despite this the court was told Mr Hannaway was seen taking people into the building to view the ongoing work.

HSE Inspector Paul Hoskins said: "HSE takes these potential disturbances very seriously. This is another example of a company failing to carry out the required asbestos checks before refurbishment work starts. A survey is required to ensure asbestos is identified and removed to prevent inadvertent disturbance."

Previously, Asbestos had been identified in the building before it was purchased. However, it is unknown whether or not asbestos materials were disturbed during the refurbishment work.

(LM/CD)