Infested businesses ordered to close

Two businesses on the same Birmingham road have been forced to close following the discovery of an infestation of pests.

In two separate hearings on Friday, October 9, Birmingham Magistrates Court granted hygiene emergency protection orders against Charcoal Grill and Prime Shop, both based on Alum Rock Road.

In the case against Charcoal Grill, Birmingham City Council environmental health officers carried out an inspection on October 5 following a complaint about pests.

During the visit, officers discovered cockroaches running around behind a freezer and in the store room.

Other hygiene failures included a dirty microwave with debris building up underneath, a grill clogged up with grease and dirt, a chopping board in poor condition and dirty piping.

Officers were satisfied there was an imminent risk to public health and served a hygiene emergency protection notice.

The premises were re-inspected and evidence of cockroaches was still present meaning the risk to public health remains.

Environmental health officer Simon Garrison told the court the owners have asked for ‘another chance’ and understand what’s happened and are working to rectify the issues.

In the second case, a routine inspection was carried out on October 7 at the Prime Shop convenience store where a mouse and cockroach infestation was discovered.

Mouse droppings were found in the kitchen while cockroaches were found on shelves next to bread, on the floor and on a table where food equipment was.

Officers found three generations of cockroaches present including a female carrying an egg sack which could hatch between 30 to 40 cockroach nymphs.

They said cockroaches carry diseases such as e-coli and salmonella while mice are agile and can get through holes the size of a pen, with a single mouse able to produce up to 80 droppings a day.

They concluded there was an imminent risk to public health and served a hygiene emergency protection notice.

Mr Garrison carried out a re-inspection of the premises but found there was still evidence of pest activity including cockroaches on shelves.

He said: “(The owners) were a bit in shock but they understand what needs to be done and are trying to get it treated as quickly as possible.”

By Gurdip Thandi | Local Democracy Reporting Service