A fish and chip shop owner from Farnham, Surrey, has been fined nearly £5,000 after failing to deal with an “excessive smell” caused by inadequate extraction.
Waverley Borough Council Environmental Health officers had been working with the owner of Oceans Eleven to help resolve the persistent smell of cooking oil coming from the takeaway. However, after failing to make any improvement, in April 2022, he was prosecuted in court, followed by a further prosecution in January of this year for the continuing issue.
The original fine of £1,100, court costs of £1,006 and victim surcharge of £110 in 2022 was then followed by a second prosecution in January where the owner was fined a further £2,000 plus costs.
Councillor Andy MacLeod, Waverley Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Operational and Enforcement Services, said: “Our officers work extremely hard to try and resolve issues with business owners before resorting to prosecution but, in this case, there was no improvement and, as a council, we have to consider how the rest of the community is affected.
“I hope that this action will help those living and working in the area and serve as a reminder to food business owners that they must consider their neighbours as the council will not hesitate to prosecute people and businesses who are causing a similar nuisance.”
The fish and chip shop changed hands at the end of 2022 and the new owner is working with the council to upgrade the kitchen extraction system which is expected to resolve the issue.
