Housing Call For Migrants After Czech Man’s Death

An Arbroath councillor has called for accommodation for migrant workers to be inspected and regulated following the death of a young Czech man in a caravan blaze. Petr Adamnik, 28, died after fire engulfed three caravans at Birkhill Farm, just outside Arbroath, in the early hours of Monday.

Mr Adamnik and another Czech man in his 20s were taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee but Mr Adamnik later died from his injuries. The other man was treated for serious burns and remained in hospital yesterday.

Police and fire officers last night said there were no suspicious circumstances. Neighbours believed there had been a party in the caravans on Sunday night, with reports of loud music and talking.

Many of the caravans have heating supplied by gas cannisters but police could not confirm if this played a part in the blaze spreading quickly.

Half a dozen caravans on the farm, all believed to be occupied by foreign workers, remained cordoned off with police tape yesterday while uniformed officers continued their inquiries.

Last night, Hayshead and Lunan councillor Bob Spink called for all temporary accommodation used by Angus’s estimated 4,000 migrant workers to be approved and registered with the local council, to ensure the highest possible safety standards were in place.

The independent councillor said the council had dealt well with the immediate aftermath of the fire by providing food, shelter and a translator. But he said better housing policies were needed in the long term.

“If Angus Council is to continue along the path of welcoming these young visitors, then we must go the whole hog and make sure the accommodation, living conditions and standards are at least as good as for our native residents, for health and safety and common decency purposes,” he said.

Mr Spink said accommodation should be approved and registered, proper planning conditions should be met and regular inspections should be carried out by safety authorities such as the fire service, social work and Health and Safety Executive.

Housing charity Shelter Scotland said it could not comment on individual cases but it supported calls for better and more permanent housing.

Mr Adamnik’s father, brother and sister, who all live in the Czech Republic, have been informed of his death. It is understood they will not fly to Scotland and the Czech consulate will arrange for Mr Adamnik’s body to be repatriated.

Farm owner Frank Hendry said Mr Adamnik lived on the farm but did not work there. He declined to comment further.

A Tayside Fire and Rescue spokesman said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.