A prominent B&M branch in Birmingham was forced to close due to a rampant mice infestation, garnering severe criticism from local authorities. In the wake of a customer report about droppings on the store shelves, council inspectors visited the location at St.
Andrew’s Shopping Park, right across from the Birmingham City football stadium, on Monday, November 11. The inspectors discovered signs of a rodent presence throughout the stockroom and sales floor, with the confectionery aisle being particularly affected.
Faced with this unpleasant discovery, BandM made the decision to temporarily shut down the shop on Tuesday, November 12, to perform an exhaustive cleaning process. Following inspection findings presented before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court this morning, the store has been mandated to remain closed until the health risk is resolved.
Upholding the hygiene emergency prohibition order, the magistrate expressed their dismay: “We have considered all the information and looked at the evidence and quite frankly it is hideous. We are very unhappy with what we have seen.”
The magistrate further condemned the store’s lack of action to rectify the issue, despite it being highlighted in a pest control report earlier in the month. Addressing the severity of the situation, the magistrate stated: “The public shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near that store. It’s a disgrace, quite frankly.”, reports Birmingham Live.
Kizzy Bent, an environmental health officer at Birmingham City Council, revealed: “It wasn’t a routine assessment. A member of the public contacted us in the afternoon of October 26 indicating they had been to the store, looked at the shelves and observed droppings.”
She added that the customer had informed staff and the manager was already aware of the issue. Bent detailed her findings to the court with photographs from her visit on Monday, showing droppings in the warehouse.
On inspecting the shop floor, she discovered mouse faeces in the chocolate section and immediately ordered it to be sealed off. Bent stated: “I concluded there was an imminent risk to public health and the business should cease selling food until the risk had been removed.”
She returned to the premises at 8am on Wednesday, November 13, noting most necessary actions had been taken, including pest control measures, disposal of potentially contaminated food, and thorough cleaning.
However, she pointed out that pest proofing was only ’95 per cent done’ and advised keeping the store shut until completion, expected later that afternoon. Sal Smith, BandM’s director of health and safety, addressed the court, highlighting it was the company’s first appearance for such issues and said: “Obviously we have 748 stories. We have a good health and safety food hygiene record especially with Birmingham City Council.”
“We average a five-star rating and this is an exception. The pace we have moved at this shows our dedication to making the premises as safe as it possibly can be. We are just sorry to be here.”