A construction company has been fined £20,000 after fire safety issues were found on a building site in Meir.

A company manager was also fined after refusing to provide details of workers at the site in Brookwood Drive.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard on Thursday (August 24) that the two charges against Amro Construction Limited, of Rolls Crescent, Hulme, Manchester, were admitted at a previous hearing. Company director David Taylor, of Clarendon Street, Hulme, Manchester, pleaded guilty in February to obstructing a health and safety inspector.

The inspection of the building site was carried out last year. Nathan Cook, prosecuting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: "On January 13 two inspectors went to the site and it's fair to say there were a number of issues.

"Building construction involved timber and bricks and there was a risk of fire because materials on the site were particularly flammable prior to construction. There was an open gas stove being used on the site.

An open gas stove was been used on the site that had no fire detection or alarm system (Health and Safety Executive).

"There was no hot or cold water on the site, no fire detection or alarm system and poor security fencing meant access could be gained to the site. The distance between timber and neighbouring properties was less than recommended.

"There were improvement notices served. And to the credit of the company these were complied with and necessary improvements at the site were undertaken.

"However, as part of the inspection, information was requested from (company director David Taylor), details of employees on the site. When this wasn't received there was an excuse of data protection.

"He was given a written warning – an inspector was using his powers to require a person to provide information required by an inspector. He wasn't prepared to provide the information."

Taylor was fined £3,000 and also ordered to pay £1,935.67 costs and a £190 surcharge. Amro Construction Ltd was fined £20,000 for failing to discharge health and safety duties and also ordered to pay £1,087 costs and a £190 surcharge.

Last week the court heard the company was no longer trading.

TO FIND OUT HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BILLS THIS SUMMER - CLICK THE 'HELP FOR HOUSEHOLDS' BANNER ABOVE THIS ARTICLE. 

READ MORE: End of an era as popular pet stall in Longton announces its closure after nearly 50 years

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.