Nursery and directors ordered to pay more than £5,700 over dirty conditions
Date published: 28 November 2024
Mouse droppings were found on surfaces. Image courtesy of Oldham Council
Oldham Council has prosecuted a nursery and its directors for food hygiene offences after standards slipped.
In November last year an environmental health officer carried out a routine food hygiene inspection at Cornerhouse Day Nursery Ltd on Cross Street in Lees.
Unfortunately, the officer found mouse droppings throughout the premises, including on top of open bags of pasta, on bibs, in boxes of children’s cups and bottles, on work surfaces and in the children’s playrooms.
Dirt was found on the flooring and there were holes in the back of kitchen cupboards that had not been pest proofed.
Equipment, including the oven and the microwave, was found to be dirty.
Following the inspection the directors voluntarily agreed to close until a clean up could take place and the nursery was issued with a 0 rating – meaning urgent Improvement was necessary.
A further inspection a few days later found standards had improved and the nursery was allowed to reopen, but due to the seriousness of the issues discovered on the first visit legal proceedings were launched by the council.
After previously pleading guilty to two charges under Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations, the directors and company were sentenced at Tameside Magistrates Court on November 22.
Cornerhouse Day Nursery Ltd was fined a total of £2,000 with costs of £1,087 and a victim surcharge of £800.
Alison O’Reilly was fined £380, with £350 costs and victim surcharge of £152 and her fellow director, Sadie Parsons, was also fined £461, with £350 costs and victim surcharge of £184
Councillor Chris Goodwin, whose Don’t Trash Oldham Cabinet portfolio includes food hygiene enforcement, said: “The safety of our residents and their children is a priority for this administration.
"This nursery previously had a five star rating for food hygiene and safety.
“So, it’s really disappointing that they let standards fall so much.
“The building was very unclean and we’d have been failing in our duties, especially to the children and their parents, if we hadn’t taken action.
"The business is continuing to make improvements and that’s good.
“We want to see businesses doing well and if you are struggling, please get in touch with our food safety team as they are here to help.”
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