A caravan and motorhome dealer has been ordered to pay £11,000 for selling a potentially dangerous motorhome and committing an offence under the General Product Safety Regulations.
Gwynedd-based Evans Caravans Ltd has been fined £8,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190 and costs of £3,021.
The case was brought by Gwynedd Council’s Public Protection Service, after a member of the public highlighted concerns about gas and electrical installation in a motorhome purchased from Evans Caravans Ltd on 14 August, 2020.
Magistrates have now found that the company had been negligent and that the vehicle was potentially dangerous.
A gas installation inspection report was undertaken on the motorhome by GasSafe, and a significant number of at risk defects were identified including the LPG compartment being unsealed; the LPG compartment having inadequate ventilation and exposed electrical connections.
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Unsatisfactory ventilation from gas appliances was found in the habitable area; the gas hob/grill had not been fitted with a flame supervision device on each burner; and the gas fridge was found to have an unsatisfactory flue which was not approved by the manufacturer.
An electrical assessment of the motorhome also considered the installation to be unsafe and dangerous.
The electrical installation was in close proximity to the gas supply locker; the consumer unit had not been secured in place, with possible access to live terminals within the consumer unit; electrical cables were not adequately secured and had no strain protection; a socket was incorrectly wired; the leisure battery had no vent for hydrogen gas.
Councillor Dafydd Meurig, the Environment Department’s Cabinet Member for Gwynedd Council, said: “As a council, we have a duty to protect the safety of Gwynedd residents.
“Consumers should be able to have confidence that any product they purchase is considered safe.
“We will not hesitate to take necessary action against businesses who irresponsibly neglect their trading obligations by failing to supply goods to the required standard and unnecessarily putting people in danger.”
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