Three food businesses are also set to be taken to court
Wirral Council has closed down ten businesses in the last year due to “imminent risk to health” according to a new environmental health report. The local authority investigated hundreds of noise, food and rubbish complaints, carried out over 700 pest control treatments, and is taking three businesses to court.
The figures from November 2023 to October 2024 have just been released ahead of a Wirral Council Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure committee meeting on November 28. Councillors are being asked to endorse the report on the local authority’s work to “protect the public from a range of environmental and public health issues which may impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities.”
Statistics in the report show the council handled 86 bonfires, 701 noise complaints, and 241 requests around waste as well as 149 public health nuisance and filthy requests. 67 people reported drains and sewers flooding while 91 people raised damp and mould issues.
READ MORE: Woman knew something was wrong after two spoonfuls of curry night before wedding READ MORE: 'Low morale' and 'overcrowding' found at Merseyside A&E but 'staff doing their best'981 food hygiene inspections were carried out with 133 businesses revisited and 261 complaints looked into. 141 infectious diseases notifications were issued and 10 businesses were closed by the council due to “imminent risk to health.”
2323 businesses were inspected for food hygiene with more than 70% rated five which is “very good.” 40 businesses were told they “needed improvement” and given a rating of two.
Nine businesses were given zero star hygiene ratings which calls for “urgent improvement” while 36 were given one star meaning “major improvement” is needed. 96.3% of Wirral businesses were considered compliant.
However three food businesses are set to be taken to court by the local authority over a “failure to protect food from contamination likely to render the food unfit for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated in such a way that it would expect it to be consumed in that state” as well as “failure to have adequate controls in place to control pests and failure to keep food premises in a clean condition.”
The council said: “Guilty pleas have been received in relation to the three cases and they are currently before the courts for sentencing in November 2024 and March 2025.” The council said it also visited 34 funeral directors following “a distressing incident which occurred at a funeral directors in Hull and East Riding.”
A police investigation is ongoing there but the council inspection was off the back of a government request to restore faith in the sector. No significant concerns were identified during the Wirral visits.
The council as part of a contract with United Utilities has placed 1,039 sewer baits to catch rats with 202 pest control treatments carried out for the animal. 227 mice treatments took place as well as 59 flea and 79 wasp complaints and 724 call outs in total for pest control.
45 animal health inspections were carried out and 232 dogs were accommodated for by the Friends of Birkenhead Kennels. 60% of these were rehomed and 33% reclaimed. In September the council received a platinum award from the RSPCA for its work in relation to stray dogs.