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A care home, hotel, bar, and several takeaways across Kent are failing to meet fire safety standards, figures reveal.
Throughout 2018-19, Kent Fire and Rescue (KFRS) provided figures to the Home Office showing it reviewed more than 1,517 public buildings and flats in the county and found a fifth - around 300 - were breaching fire regulations and changes were required.
It has issued 839 written warnings over the year and 179 formal notices comprising of 149 enforcement notices, stating what improvements are needed and by when if a serious risk is found, and 28 prohibition notices banning or restricting use of premises until problems are sorted.
Safety breaches could include inadequate ways to escape such as blocked exits, the number of people inside a building exceeding its capacity, or unsuitable fire detection.
Failure to comply with the prohibition notice restrictions can lead to enforcement action, including prosecution.
Mustafa Kemal Mustafa, of Briar Lane, West Wickham, Bromley, was taken to Croydon Crown Court in September for three counts of breaching fire safety guidelines at accommodation in Sycamore Drive, Swanley.
He pleaded guilty and is due to be sentenced early next year.
Up-to-date figures provided by the National Fire Chiefs Council show there are 37 prohibition notices in force across the county.
However, the fire service says buildings with these in force can still be used, as long as the owners work within the restrictions placed on them.
Medway has nine orders in force, six of which are in Gillingham.
They include Borstal Mini Mart and Borstal Fish Bar, in Borstal Road, Breeze Café and Quality Chicken and Ribs, in Gillingham High Street, Hons Chinese restaurant in Rainham High Street, Ko Wah Chinese takeaway in Watling Street, Gillingham, Spice Rain Indian takeaway, in Station Road, Rainham, the Summer Palace Chinese takeaway in Gillingham Road, Gillingham, and flats in Chatham High Street.
Gravesend had four prohibition orders issued in the last two years, including the Lucky Dragon Chinese takeaway on Rochester Road, the Cricketers Pub, in Arthur Street, Jade Garden in Parrock Street and an off-licence in Milton Road.
Breeze cafe did not wish to comment and the rest did not respond to calls made by KentOnline.
Two notices have been in force for 10 years or more.
One was served on a home in multiple occupation in Queen Street, Gravesend, in May 2008, the other was given in 2009 to the Abbots Barton Hotel in New Dover Road, Canterbury.
A KFRS spokeswoman said: "Some premises will never be able to reduce the risk sufficiently to remove the restrictions placed upon it, and therefore have no expiration dates set.
"Notices for restriction set out how they can be used but as long as the responsible person remains within those limits, the venue may still be in use and the notice will stay in force.
"As long as they keep within the parameters they are not committing an offence."
Another notice was served to Alma Residential Home in Alma Road, Sheerness which was forced to close in January the day after fire chiefs ruled safety failings were putting the lives of residents and staff at risk.
The notice remains in force 10 months on and the care home has been closed since.
A month on from the notice being issued, the owner, Kirit Shah, said: "It is wrong to say we have permanently shut although we don't have any plans to reopen at the moment."
The owner confirmed again this week the business was still considering its options.
Another familiar venue with restrictions is Source Bar, in Rose Yard, Maidstone.
Owner Steve Moore confirmed he was in discussions with KFRS to rectify its concerns the club's street parties did not have an adequate evacuation policy.
It has been restricted to 350 guests at one time as opposed to the usual 1,100.
He said: "I would like to believe that we can find a resolution with KFRS so our events will be able to be re-instated."
Checking buildings took up 11 weeks of the fire service's building safety team's time in 2018-19, with tasks ranging from contacting property owners and managers, to carrying out on-site visits and enforcement action.
Those falling short on safety standards were subject to follow-up action from the fire service or courts, taking into account the threat posed to the public and whether those responsible agree to make changes.
Following the audits, 51 places were brought back into satisfactory standards.
Mark Woodward, group manager for building safety said: “Each location is different, and cases vary greatly in complexity, so our building safety officers deal with each on a case by case basis.
“Where a combination of breaches in fire precautions causes the fire service to deem there is a risk so serious to life, a prohibition notice will be served to restrict its use, or parts of its use, to ensure the safety of the occupants.”
Not all public buildings in the county were inspected over the period.
Fire services choose how many audits they carry out based on their own inspection strategy - meaning it may elect to target higher-risk properties.
