Sprinkler cost may force hotel’s closing

Press, 25 January 1979, Page 6

Sprinkler cost may force hotel’s closing

One of Christchurch’s best! known hotels may be forced to close this year because of a decision by the Licensing. Control Commission. The United Service Hotel, in Cathedral Square, is required to have a sprinkler system installed to meet firesafety regulations. But the hotel’s operators sought permission to have the building exempted from the Fire Code. Their application was declined by the commission in a decision released yester- ; day.

Because the hotel is due to be demolished in 10 years, the owners are reluctant to go to the expense of installing sprinklers. One estimate of the cost of a suitable system is $130,000. The United Service is owned by Central City Estate, Ltd. The head lessee is Idris Freeholds, Ltd, and the sub-lessee is United Service Hotel (1978), Ltd.

Mr .1. N. Matson, representing Idris Freeholds, told the commission during the hearing of his company’s application for exemption . that if sprinklers were insisted on, the hotel might have to be closed.

Although it was desirable from the public’s point of view that the best possible fire nrecautions be provided, the closing of the hotel could mean the loss of 121 beds and between 60 and 90 jobs.

Mr Matson said yesterday that he was not authorised to comment on the commission’s decision. Neither the hotel’s manager (Mr W. I. Menzies), nor the governing director of Idris Freeholds (Mr D. McFarlane jun.,) could be reached yesterday. Mr R. H. Grayson, representing United Service Hotel, Ltd, told the commission at the hearing that his company would have no alternative but to go out of business if sprinklers were insisted on. Mr G. H. Gould, representing Central Estate, told the commission that the premises! would be offered for sale and depiolition in May, 1989, | when the lease expired. In! view of this his company did not consider it realistic to expect, the lessee to install a high-cost sprinkler system. In making its decision, the commission said that the provisions of the Fire Code “should not lightly be put aside.” The code had been formulated only after careful .thought by. a.comnuttee -with wide industry representation. The United Service Hotel provided accommodation for 121 guests and its construc- ' tion was such that maximum protection was necessary. The commission gave Idris Freeholds six months to meet the Fire Code’s provisions by installing a sprinkler system.