A local hotelier has been fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs for breaching food hygiene regulations.

Mr Robert Setchell of The Nyton in Barton Road, Ely admitted five breaches of The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 last week at Cambridge Magistrates.

The case followed routine inspections of the premises by the Environmental Health Team at East Cambridgeshire District Council in August and September 2012.  The visits were to check compliance with food safety legislation, identify potential risks and ensure food safety standards were met.

A number of food safety contraventions were discovered despite Mr Setchell having received training and one to one coaching in “Safer Food Better Business” offered by the Council. Due to the longstanding history of non compliance with food hygiene regulations and the failure to comply with warnings – officers had no alternative but to take legal action.

At the hearing on Thursday 14 February, Maggie Camp, Senior Legal Assistant for the Council told the court that the authority takes a very serious view of food safety contraventions as these could lead to an outbreak of food poisoning and a risk to public health.  

Ms Metcalfe, acting for Mr Setchell, argued problems had arisen when Mr Setchell had to dismiss one of his chefs but since employing a new chef at his premises, standards had improved substantially and were now satisfactory.  

However the Magistrates found Mr Setchell guilty having heard all the evidence.

Liz Knox, Head of Environmental Services at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Anyone running a restaurant, café or hotel has a great responsibility to the public to ensure their hygiene levels are the best they can be. This is from how food is kept, cooked and served as well as compliance with the necessary national legislation.

“Taking this legal action is always a last resort but we are determined to protect public safety. We will continue to monitor food businesses throughout the district and if they fail to keep up adequate standards, then we will not hesitate to take legal action.”

For more information please call 01353 665555 or logon to www.eastcambs.gov.uk