to expect a large shopping centre to have effective fire evacuation procedures?

[llareggub]

I am still angry about this. We visited the Touchwood Centre in Solihull today. I was with my husband and our one year old son, plus buggy.

We were shopping upstairs in Gap when the fire alarm went off. Of course we ignored it at first because the staff carried on serving customers. We asked one of the assistants if she knew whether it was a test, a drill or a real live fire and she stared blankly at it. Outside everyone else was making their way to the escalator so we decided to leave the shop into the main shopping mall.

It was heaving and there was no way of getting near the escalator. There were no staff or fire marshalls to be seen and the people with buggys ended up standing rather helplessly to one side with the people in wheelchairs.

It was chaos. The place was so busy and we had no way of getting to the escalator. Even if we had abandoned the buggy I didn't feel safe carrying my baby through the chaos.

An assistant from one of the stores called us over to a fire exit and told us we it was the escape route of people in wheelchairs. As we entered the corridor, another assistant told us not to go there, but didn't offer an alternative.

We headed down the corridor. Some of us had buggys, others had wheelchairs and there was a man on crutches. We followed escape route signs down a long corridor where we found only a locked door and a flight of stairs.

By now several of the people with us were crying as they were unable to use the stairs. It was terrifying as the fire alarm was an awful wailing type and we were alone,trapped with no members of staff to call upon.

Luckily my husband found a phone and was able to direct the fire marshalls to us so that we could help the people in wheelchairs.

I went directly to the manager's office to fill in an accident report but was told I could not. Eventually he allowed me to fill in a "Guest Comment" form giving details of what happened.

Frankly I am furious. We would not have been able to all get out had there been a serious fire or whatever. I still feel quite shaken, perhaps because I really felt vulnerable having my son with me.

They did listen to what we had to say but I did feel that what happened was so serious I ought to contact some sort of enforcement agency. It was a real cock up and I felt a bit fobbed off.

This is a long one. AIBU?

Am totally at this, this is my local shopping centre and I am in there all the time with DD...

My last job was in a lab where we had very strict and well-rehearsed evacuation procedures (as you might imagine!) and I kind of assumed all companies did.

It is complete b*s to say they don't have the staff to get people out, being a fire marshal is not a full time job, you simply need to train existing members of staff in what to do when the fire alarm rings!

Now, as far as I know, it is legitimate to have an evacuation plan where those needing help to evacuate can gather in a 'protected area' and wait for assistance, which could be where the staff were trying to direct you..but to a LOCKED DOOR?! Was there really a door saying 'Fire Exit' that was locked? Surely not in this day and age?!

Will think twice about shopping on the upper floor from now on...

You should definitely go to the local paper, it will make a change for them to have something interesting to write about. Last week's headline was about a pub building a smoker's shelter without planning permission

Solihull News

Solihull Observer

Hello all

To those Touchwood shoppers who have posted here, today I had a letter hand delivered to my home by (weirdly) the marketing manager. They are clearly trying to avoid sensational newspaper stories.

Am not interested in press coverage regarding this. I am more than happy with this being taken up by WMFS.

Just as a side note, the locked door turned out to be a cupboard, not a fire escape.

Nip - I don't live in Solihull, I am in Warks.

Mmm I think your assessment is spot on llareggub. Especially in the light of this week's losses in the Fire Service and in the run-up to the centre's busiest period.

Also the 'responsible person' at the centre could be in big trouble for not implementing and maintaining the required standards. And in the case of a death could go to prison.

that is terrible my exh is a fire investigator and i have heard terrible stories of evacuation procedures which have failed with ensuing fatalities you must pursue it

llareggub - that's why i asked - so am i.

Thinking about it, every company I have worked for has had weekly tests of the alarm (at the same time, so you know it's not real unless it keeps going) and regular practice evacuations. Am appalled a shopping centre doesn't. Not only fire risk, but apparently terrorists are possibly looking at 'soft' targets where lots of people gather - that nightclub in London had a narrow escape.

How scary. Glad you are doing something about it.

We were in London at half-term and took DS to Hamleys. Never again. It is a major incident waiting to happen. Your thread has prompted me to try and contact them and (presumably) the London Fire Service.

If an alarm went off in Hamleys people would die in a crush incident. Even a false alarm. It is scary.