Councillor before courts

ABDUL MALIK AHMED

AN Oldham Labour councillor is to appear at crown court after one of his employees fell 20ft from a scaffolding tower, fracturing his hip and both heels.

Abdul Malik Ahmed (56), of Wellington Road, Werneth, appeared at Trafford Magistrates' Court on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to an alleged breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. An employee of Mr Malik Ahmed's Malbro Building Company claims the Coldhurst councillor failed to give him the relevant training for working at a height.

In 2013, that employee fell 20ft from a scaffolding tower while changing lightbulbs at the Oldham Bangladeshi Cultural Centre after being asked to do so by Mr Malik Ahmed.

He fractured his hip and both of his heels in the fall.

Mr Malik Ahmed, who denies the charges, has been accused of breaking section five of The Work at Height Regulations 2005, which states "Every employer shall ensure that no person engages in any activity, including organisation, planning and supervision, in relation to work at height or work equipment for use in such work unless he is competent to do so or, if being trained, is being supervised by a competent person."

Mr Malik Ahmed will now face trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, on July 22.