A BAKERY has been fined nearly £20,000 for serious hygiene breaches including a rat infestation.

 

La Tradition Ltd – based in Willersey with retail outlets in Chipping Campden and Oxfordshire - pleaded guilty at Stroud Magistrates Court yesterday to charges they had failed to keep the premises clean, did not address a serious infestation of rats and mice, and had breached an Emergency Prohibition Order.

 

In March Officers from Cotswold District Council undertook a food hygiene inspection of the business in Willersey. 

 

They noted an infestation of rats and mice along with very poor standards of cleaning and disrepair. 

 

An Emergency Prohibition Order was made by Stroud Magistrates Court to close the business.

 

However, council officers later discovered the business had defied the court order and carried on trading with an active rodent infestation.

 

Council representatives explained to the court that the company operated from an unmarked warehouse which was not suitable for food preparation and had not registered the food business with the council prior to opening.

 

Magistrates levied a fine of £4,000 for lack of cleaning and disrepair, £4,000 (each) for two charges of failing to keep the premises pest free and a further £6,000 for breaching the court order.

 

In addition to this, £500 costs were awarded to the council and the firm had to pay a £180 court cost and a £120 victim surcharge. 

 

In total fines and costs amounted to £18,800.

 

After the hearing Cllr Sue Coakley, cabinet member for health, environment and communities at CDC, said: “Officers have had no alternative but to prosecute this company.

 

“They must act when a food business deliberately breaks the law, and the gravity of the offence is reflected in the fine awarded by the Magistrates.”