Lancashire restaurant fined £20,000 after health, safety and hygiene failings
Lancaster business ordered to pay after unguarded machinery and foul water discharge
A Lancaster restaurant has been ordered to pay a £20,000 fine after pleading guilty to multiple health, safety and hygiene offences.
Burgshake Restaurants, based on St Leonardsgate, was investigated by Lancaster City Council’s environmental health officers following reports that a protective guard was missing from the rotating blade of an external extraction fan, posing a serious injury risk.
During their visit, officers also found the business was letting foul water discharge directly onto a side path often used by students accessing nearby accommodation.
The company was served with a Prohibition Notice to stop use of the faulty fan and received an improvement notice to ensure the machinery was made safe and the drainage issues were fixed.
At Lancaster Magistrates Court on 14th October, the business pleaded guilty to one health and safety offence, one food safety and hygiene offence, and two counts of failing to comply with improvement notices.
As well as the £20,000 fine, the company must pay £2,723.44 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge, with payments to be made at a rate of £400 per month.
Councillor Paul Hart, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Public safety is non‑negotiable. Not adhering to health and safety regulations is unacceptable and puts our community at risk.
“Our officers gave the business every opportunity to put things right, but when the necessary improvements were not made, we took enforcement action.
“The size of the fine imposed by the courts reflects the seriousness of the offences.
“Protecting residents and visitors and ensuring businesses meet their legal duties is a key task of our environmental health team.”