A popular restaurant in Oadby has been issued with a closure notice for not complying with social distancing rules.
The notice has been served on the Tipu Sultan restaurant located on The Parade. This means the eatery must close for at least a month, following the action taken by Leicestershire County Council in consultation with Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.
Gary Connors, head of regulatory services for Leicestershire County Council, said: “The order has been issued following non-compliance with social distancing as well as other issues brought to our attention about the use of the premises.”
“The concerns constitute a serious and imminent threat to public health and given the rapid rise of cases in the borough, we have no alternative but to use our new powers.”
Mike Sandys, director of public health for Leicestershire County Council, said: “This steep rise in cases in the borough is off the scale – and underlines that residents need to change their behaviour.”
“Businesses and restaurants play a vital role in getting the situation under control and we will take action where we believe it poses a health risk to residents.”
David Gill, Head of Law and Democracy for Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, said: “Our team has been working closely with concerned parties regarding the behaviour of this restaurant, with officers of the Council compiling evidence since early August.”
“We were able to supply the County Council with multiple exhibits relating to the lack of social distancing and failure to comply with COVID regulations, to enable them to consult with Public Health and issue the direction notice.”
The news follows new restrictions imposed in Oadby & Wigston preventing residents from socialising with people they don’t live with in private homes and gardens.
The move comes after rates in the borough shot up to 145 per 100,000 people – over three times the national and Leicestershire averages – and placing it second in the country.