Rat infested Chasetown restaurant is shut

Mar 6 2008

A RAT-infested restaurant where rodents had been chomping away at food in the kitchen has been shut by magistrates.

Tamworth Magistrates court approved Lichfield District Council's decision to temporarily close Hot Rock, a Bangladeshi and Indian restaurant, on High Street, in Chasetown.

The authority had served an 'emergency prohibition notice' to Hot Rock on February 28, after Environmental Health officers found the Indian restaurant's kitchen to be infested with rats.

Officers discovered evidence of rat faeces and fur on the kitchen floor and work surfaces. They also saw that rats had been gnawing at food.

The court ratified the council's notice at a hearing on March 3.

Restaurant bosses have now been told that they can re-open the venue once they have removed the rat infestation, totally cleaned and disinfected the affected areas, thrown away all the contaminated food, and blocked up holes and gaps in the walls and pipes so that rats cannot get in the building.

Coun Val Richards, Cabinet Member for Community, Housing, Health and Leisure, said: "This is a good result and I am pleased the Magistrate's Court has taken the issue so seriously. It sends out a strong message that Lichfield District Council will not tolerate risk to public safety."