Law change to honour couple who died in Cameron House hotel fire

The Scottish Government has put forward a law to make sprinklers mandatory in historic hotel conversions following the fatal Cameron House fire.

Richard Dyson, 38, and Simon Midgley, 32, died after being stuck during a fire at the hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond, near Balloch, in December 2017.

A fire investigator told the fatal accident inquiry that he found evidence the couple had tried to use a painting to smash their way out of the burning building.

The inquiry concluded that a number of defects in the hotel’s systems contributed to the fire, with the Sheriff recommending that the Scottish Government introduce a requirement for sprinklers to be installed when historic buildings are converted to hotels.

Housing secretary Màiri McAllan confirmed on Wednesday that the changes are being put forward under ‘Simon and Richard’s Law’.

A fatal accident inquiry found the couple tried to smash their way out of burning hotel STV News

If approved, sprinklers would become a mandatory requirement for traditional buildings that are newly converted into hotels in Scotland.

A ban on combustible external wall cladding systems would also be extended to include hotels, guest houses, hostels and boarding houses.

The changes will come into force on April 6 next year if approved by the Scottish Parliament.

“The deaths of Simon Midgley and Richard Dyson in 2017 at Cameron House Hotel were a truly awful tragedy,” McAllan said.

“The fatal accident inquiry into their deaths made a number of recommendations, including for the Scottish Government to introduce a requirement for sprinklers to be installed when historic buildings are converted to hotels. I am pleased to have introduced this change in law to the Scottish Parliament.

“This is part of a package of work we are taking forward as a result of the Cameron House Hotel fire to improve public safety in Scotland and reduce the risk of a tragedy like this happening again.”

Jane Midgley, Simon’s mum, said the announcement was “bittersweet”.

“While it’s a big step forward, I do feel these changes do not go far enough. I want everyone to be safe and for recommendations to be extended to all hotels, not just those that are newly converted,” she said.

“I am frustrated that it has taken eight years to reach this stage. It has been a lot of hard work, but I’m determined to keep going and to raise awareness.

“I don’t want my boys to be forgotten.”