Hart Space ‘not required to be locked’published at 12:14 BST
12:14 BST
Jonny Humphries
Reporting from Liverpool
Ms Scholes has confirmed that she understood emergency doors at the Hart Space were not required to be locked while the building was in use.
Nicholas Moss KC asked the witness to look at a copy of a standard contract
she would agree with businesses wanting to hire the Hart Space studios.
She agreed that the contract effectively passed health and safety requirements
on to the hirer.
She said that as she is not qualified to carry out the classes
run by third parties. For example in the case of women’s boxing sessions, operating them safely is their responsibility.
Mr Moss said one of the conditions in the contract is that the hirer should not “cause or
allow any obstruction to any access into or exit to the premises”.
Ms Scholes confirmed she understood this was to allow staff access to the Calculus office, opposite the studio upstairs.
Ms Scholes said when she agreed to lease the space the hirer was given a breakdown of fire
escape routes.
She added that the main exit would be obvious, even to children, as they all had to climb the set of stairs to get into the dance studio.
Mr Moss asked about a piece of legislation called the Fire Safety Order 2005, which meant Ms Scholes had a duty to her visitors to ensure the premises were safe as far as the risk of fire was concerned
She confirms that she understood that emergency doors should
not be locked or fastened in any way while the building was in use.