Council demands that George and Dragon pub be shut at end May as Admiral Taverns refuse to undertake remedial work on defective door that gave rise to injuries.

GMB plan a demonstration in Chester to stop GMB member Peter Sanford, the tenant of George and Dragon pub in Fritwell, Bicester, Oxfordshire, being evicted by his landlord Admiral Taverns because he is disabled after he sustained injuries in a fall at the pub while working. Admiral Taverns are pressuring to get him out by May 31st 2010.

On 21 July 2009 while at work he was injured from a fall having caught his foot on a defective door which was fitted by Admiral during a then recent refit. His injuries sustained when he fell through the door include a broken knee, tibia and nerve damage. He is in a wheelchair and he has told the union that he can walk a very limited few paces and that the prognosis is that he will not recover the full use of his left leg and will be permanently disabled.

The door fitted by Admiral are totally unsuitable and do not fit the requirement of a business premises. A GMB officer who visited the pub and inspected the property reported that that the standard of repairs were terrible and damp is prevalent throughout the building, also during the refit no account was taken for any disabled facilities.

Peter Sanford has advised GMB that, in March 2010 on a visit to the pub, Mr Peter Smith, the business development manager for Admiral Taverns, became abusive and threatening, insisting that Mr Sanford as a disabled person could not expect to run a pub and that he surrender the lease and leave the property by the end of May 2010 at the latest. He advised that Peter Smith further stated that rent concessions or help from Admiral were no longer available under any circumstances.

Health and Safety officers from Cherwell District Council who inspected the premises in April 2010 are demanding that he shuts the pub at end May if work to remedy the defective doors and other works is not completed by him. The landlord Admiral Taverns have been in touch with the council and are refusing to accept any responsibility to remedy the defective doors.

Hayley Brennan, lead organizer for GMB pub tenants who is representing Mr Sandford said "Mr Sanford does not accept that because he is disabled he should leave the pub. GMB plan to campaign to ensure that Admiral Taverns accept it's responsibilities. This is a case that involves disability discrimination, negligence, workplace health and safety and taxpayers money all rolled up into a single case.

A four weeks Enforcement Notice has now been served by Health & Safety officers of Cherwell Council to replace the defective doors or the pub will be closed down at the end of May.  This was served after Admiral Taverns, propped up at the end of last year by Lloyds Bank using taxpayers money, and the company that put the defective doors in informed the council that it was the tenants responsibility to repair the faulty doors.

GMB will now move ahead with organizing a demonstration of GMB disabled members outside Admiral Taverns Head Office in Chester to demand that they withdraw the threat of eviction, repair the defective doors and agree compensation for the injuries sustained by our member."

Contact: Hayley Brennan, Lead Organiser for GMB pub tenants 02392 632699 or 07816 124820 or GMB Press Office 07974 251 823 or 07921 289880