Cafe owner forks out £7k for filthy kitchens (From Streatham Guardian)

Cafe owner forks out £7k for filthy kitchens

7:55pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

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An Egham cafe owner had to fork out £7,350 after inspectors closed his filthy High Street kitchens.

Restauranteer Richard Banks, of Lyne, Chertsey, received written warnings following inspections of Banks café bar and restaurant in December 2005, December 2006, and January this year, but officers said standards deteriorated each time.

"If the businesses food safety systems had been managed properly by the owners, this situation would not have occurred.”

Peter Sims

Woking Magistrates fined Banks £6,000, for four food safety offences at a hearing on Friday, July 4, and £1,350 in costs.

The offences were failing to keep food premises clean and in good repair, failing to ensure that articles, fittings and equipment in contact with food were clean, failing to put in place, implement and maintain permanent procedure or procedures, and failing to maintain floor surfaces in a room where food is prepared, treated or processed in sound repair.

Environmental health officer Helen Jones, told the court that although the business had a comprehensive food safety management system in place, it was clear it was not being adhered to and Banks was not making sufficient checks to ensure even basic levels of cleanliness were met.

Banks said he regretted his previous non compliance, but blamed high running costs.

Runnymede Borough Council's director of technical services, Peter Sims said: "The standards seen were so poor that the council had no alternative other than to instigate legal proceeding against the owners.

"If the businesses food safety systems had been managed properly by the owners, this situation would not have occurred."

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