HUME CALLS FOR COMMON SENSE DEBATE ON 'DISPROPORTIONATE' FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS

5.00.00am GMT Fri 6th Nov 2009

Jim Hume MSP

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has called for a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the impact of new fire regulations on tourist accommodation providers.

The MSP's call comes after concerns from the tourism sector that small to medium holiday accommodation providers will be faced with burdensome and disproportionate fire safety regulations.

Jim said: "Everyone understands the need for fire safety in any kind of accommodation, but the concern amongst many holiday accommodation providers is that they will be asked to comply with disproportionate regulations which will also be applied to larger hotel style accommodation.

"The problem is that self catering letting businesses and larger guest houses for example may not have the ability to absorb the cost of any modifications as a result of these strict regulations and as such may choose to either cease trading or not bother expanding in the future. Simply put, the benefits of trading may very well be outweighed by the negatives.

"The South of Scotland has a great many of these types of tourist based enterprises and I fear that these disproportionate regulations, if implemented without change, could have a debilitating effect on the tourist economy across the region.

"The Minister has already exempted small B&Bs from these regulations and I believe that common sense should be applied to other small and medium tourist based enterprises. I am continuing to call for a common sense debate in the Scottish Parliament to address these issues to the Minister direct."