Urgent improvements are needed at a Glastonbury hub to prevent people being trapped in the event of a fire.

Glastonbury was one of 101 towns across the UK – and one of only two in Somerset – which has received funding from the government's towns fund, with £23.6m being provided for projects designed to enhance the town centre and improve the town's fortunes.

One of the 11 projects within the town deal involves regenerating the Red Brick Building, off the A39 Street Road, to create a "vibrant, shared community resource" for the town, especially its young people.

But a recent audit by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has identified a litany of problems with the building which would put the public at serious risk in the case of a fire.

Mendip District Council said it was working with the fire service and the Red Brick Building board to ensure improvements were made, and said the town deal funding (which was signed off by the government in September) would not be jeopardised.

Initial renovations on Building C within the Red Brick Building where carried out in early-2021 using £250,000 of "accelerator funding", released by central government ahead of the full town deal award being revealed.

Under the wider town deal project, Building C will be transformed into The Life Factory, "an inspiring place to make, create and grow as a community with zones for skills development, arts and craft makers and activities, youth, media, broadcasting and hospitality".

Chief fire officer Lee Howell visited the site in June and published his findings in an official fire audit report, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Howell said he was "the opinion that some people are at risk in case of fire" and warned that the owners of the building could face legal action if they did not implement his recommendations rapidly.

Mr Howell identified 13 specific issues with the Red Brick Building which would put people at risk – namely:

1. Not all draping and curtains within the function and artisan rooms were fire-retardant, which could ensure fire would "rapidly spread" and "make escape routes unsafe for people to use"
2. Plants and hedges near the escape routes were overgrown, making the escape route "less obvious" and thereby preventing people from "escaping quickly and safely"
3. Emergency doors within the function room were "difficult to open", which may cause people to be "trapped in the building"
4. The doors to the café which protect the stairs to the first floor were "held open with flowerpots" rather than an approved electronic method
5. People on site were not sufficiently familiar with the fire drill procedure and therefore may "behave inappropriately if fire breaks out"
6. The fire alarms and associated systems were "not properly tested and maintained", with no evidence of testing being carried out – meaning it could "fail without warning or at the moment it is needed most"
7. The emergency lighting within the building was "not properly tested", with several individual lights remaining un-repaired and being covered up with 'unit failed' stickers
8. Fire doors were "not capable of preventing the spread of fire for long enough", missing the proper strips and seals to slow the spread of fire and smoke
9. "Combustible materials" were found under the stairs, which would allow a fire to "grow unhindered" and leave people on the first floor "unable to escape"
10. New fire doors are needed in the storage area and biomass room to ensure any fire in the area can be "resisted" and contained for up to 30 minutes
11. Safe routes out of the building were "not obvious", especially in the outdoor seating area, which may lead people to use a longer route in their attempt to evacuate during a fire alarm
12. There is "no fire detection" equipment in the kitchenette near the protected escape route in Buildings A and B, meaning people "may not be warned in time to escape safely"
13. Employees have "not received adequate training" to implement fire-fighting measures, meaning they "might be harmed while tackling a fire"

One employee at the Red Brick Building – who did not wish to disclose their identity – said they had received no fire safety training since they began working there a number of years ago.

They also revealed that their equipment had not been PAT tested (official tests to ensure electrical items are safe), and expressed concern that the focus on revamping Building C meant concerns about Buildings A and B had been "left behind", putting the public at risk.

The council said it had received a complaint about the building back in May and was working with the Red Brick Building board to make the necessary changes.

A spokesman said: "Following receipt of a complaint in May this year regarding health and safety at the Red Brick Building, we were in communication with the fire service, the Red Brick Building and the complainant.

"The Red Brick Building provided copies of their health and safety policy and building risk assessment, both of which were found to be in order.

"The fire service informed us that they would be visiting the Red Brick Building, but there is no requirement for the fire audit to be shared with us, nor are we responsible for fire safety.

"The investigation was closed once the fire service confirmed that they would be taking no further action."

Planning applications have already been submitted for three of the Glastonbury town deal projects – namely the creation of the community sports and leisure hub at the Tor Leisure Centre on the A361 Street Road, the regeneration of the Baily's Buildings on Beckery Old Road, and the creation of a new piazza at Glastonbury Abbey.

A fourth application, concerning the creation of a new health and well-being hub at St. Dunstan's House on Magdalene Street, will also shortly be considered by councillors.

The council has not confirmed how soon formal plans for the Red Brick Building will come forward, but it has stated that all the fire service's recommendations would be implemented and that as a result the funding from central government would not have to be returned.

A spokesman said: "The Red Brick Building board has already discussed the issues outlined in the audit and is taking action in all areas.

"We understand that a revised health and safety action plan is currently being put in place, with a new building and facilities manager being recruited to implement and monitor this.

"In addition, they have assured us that there is no loss of resource or attention for Buildings A and B as a result of the forthcoming regeneration of Building C.

"This will not have an impact on the Glastonbury Town Deal renovation of Building C, the governance for which – as with all the town deal projects – is extremely tight."