A COUNCILLOR has questioned businesses not seeking to improve their food hygiene rating.
Cllr Steve Norman, Labour representative for the Chase Terrace ward, made his comments after a report revealed more than hundreds of inspections had been carried out over the past year by Lichfield District Council.
The former chair of the local authority’s environmental health committee welcomed the news that 195 food businesses were rated as ‘very good’ – but said that he was surprised at the number rated at the other end of the scale that were not seeking a re-inspection.
Cllr Norman said:
“I would never visit a restaurant or pub or cafe with less than a four-star rating, but a business can ask for a re-inspection as soon as they have made the necessary changes.
“Therefore I don’t understand why the three establishments in the district with only a two-star rating – meaning improvement is necessary – received the judgment in May last year but seem to be happy for that to continue.
“Even more surprising are the two businesses with a one-star food hygiene rating meaning major improvement is necessary. One in Lichfield was inspected in March this year and one, in Streetly, in June last year.
“I am pleased to see that there are no hotels, bed and breakfast or guest houses with anything less than a four-star rating.”
The report to a meeting of the regulatory and licensing committee meeting this week revealed that during the 2024-25 period, six hygiene improvement notices had been issued for “serious legal breaches”.
The review will be discussed at the committee meeting on Thursday (19th June).
