UPDATE: Zoom Takeaway in Baron Taylor Street in Inverness has its late-night licence suspended today at meeting of Highland Council's licensing committee over serious food hygiene concerns
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
An Inverness city centre takeaway has had its licence suspended over long running food hygiene concerns.
Zoom Takeaway in Baron Taylor Street was discussed at today’s meeting of Highland Council’s Licensing Committee.
Environmental health officers had recommended the move due to their observation of poor and unsatisfactory standards of food hygiene and safety.
There were also concerns that a gas installation and pipework had not been routinely maintained and serviced since December 2019.
In her submission to the committee Patricia Sheldon, a senior environmental health officer, she said: “A further safety hazard was identified in relation to the gas kebab grill which has a defective ventilation system resulting in no effective system to safely remove the products of combustion and thereby creates a carbon monoxide risk.”
She recommended that the licence be suspended until three conditions were met:
• that the operator submits a detailed and effective management plan for the premises to ensure the health, safety and welfare of both employees and members of the public;
• that a gas safety inspection record has been submitted by the operator to confirm that all gas catering appliances, installation pipework and associated flues installed at the premises are safe to use;
• and the operator demonstrates a sustained level of compliance with the food safety regulations.
Committee chairman, Cllr Andrew Jarvie, said: “Following a submission by Environmental Health based on their serious concerns about the conditions and practices, the committee unanimously agreed to suspend the licence until Environmental Health are satisfied.
“There have been long running concerns about this venue and simply providing a hand written assessment days before the hearing doesn’t quite cut it. This was not just a small error, it was a systematic failure to follow even common sense food hygiene. Despite multiple visits, standards did not adequately improve.
“This decision means that the late hours catering licence is suspended and the venue cannot operate until Environmental Health are satisfied. It is a somewhat frustrating process as it is only the late hours which are covered by the licence, however Environmental Health have also served notice which prevents it opening at all.”
The owner Mohamed Afif, who has worked in the hospitality sector for the past 25 years, spoke at the meeting and agreed to work towards making the required improvements and said: “The safety of my customers comes first.”
