Ealing Council is warning businesses to be on the alert to rogue companies offering pest control services and not doing their job properly. As a result of its investigations, it has sent warning letters to 16 pest control companies operating in Ealing that have carried out poor quality work.
According to the council, some service operators are claiming that they have found no issues but when the council inspected the premises it discovered infestations by pests.
Ealing Council is calling on local businesses to use a “legitimate and thorough company” to check for infestations as otherwise it risks the premises being closed by council inspectors.
The council says that in 2023, its officers inspected more than 2,100 food businesses and 34 Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices (HEPNs) were issued which told the businesses to close down with immediate effect until improvements were made.
During the autumn of 2023, Ealing Council took three restaurant owners as well as a food manufacturer to court over infestation of mice with micde droppings found on food, tableware and packaging. In total the businesses were fined over £42,000 and weren’t allowed to reopen until they improved their food safety standards.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “Our dedicated officers are doing a fantastic job to make sure the borough’s businesses maintain the highest possible hygiene standards.”
Councillor Nagpal added: “Local businesses should regularly check that their pest control contractors are reputable and delivering a high-quality service.”
Residents who want to register a complaint can find out more about how to do so by clicking here.
