THE parent company of Chicago Rock Caf on Unicorn Hill has been fined for contravening health and safety regulations which exposed 17 workers to asbestos when the venue was being developed.

Last Wednesday, Redditch magistrates fined Luminar Leisure, of Luton, £7,800 with costs and also fined fitters GF Interiors, of West Yorkshire, £17,965 with costs for other breaches of health and safety law.

Luminar had been charged with failing to ensure the refurbishment of the old ABC Cinema did not start until a suitable health and safety plan had been prepared.

It was also charged with failing to ensure the refurbishment planning supervisor was provided with information relating to the presence of asbestos.

GF Interiors was charged with five breaches, including failing to prepare an adequate safety plan, failing to provide comprehensive information on health and safety risks to contractors and failing to prevent or reduce the spread of asbestos.

Both companies pleaded guilty to the charges, which were brought by the Health and Safety Executive.

Investigating officer Tom Cleary said both companies had co-operated in the investigation.

Luminar representative Stuart Tyler told the court the company had implemented a review of procedures to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.

Stuart Armstrong, for GF Interiors, said asbestos had originally been identified and noted in certain areas of the old cinema such as the projection room.

But he said more asbestos had been found during refurbishment and those areas sealed.

But he admitted the company had failed to provide contractors with the original asbestos survey.

He said the company took the allegations very seriously and spent more than £50,000 in reviewing procedures to prevent a repeat.

Magistrates decided not to implement the full £5,000 fine for each offence but the chairman of the bench said: "Both companies can't hold their head very high in light of this.

"To expose 17 employees to the risk of asbestosis is disgraceful."