A grocery in Reading town centre has been forced to close after the discovery of cockroaches and evidence of a mice infestation.
My Fruit, located in West Street, has been served a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order by Reading Borough Council, effectively closing the business.
The action was undertaken due to cockroaches and evidence of mice at the premises.
A council spokesperson said: “The business was closed following a proactive inspection by the council’s Food and Safety team on October 10.
“During the inspection, officers identified live cockroach activity and evidence of a mouse infestation, which posed an imminent risk to public health.
“As a result, a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice (HEPN) was issued to close the premises immediately.
“Reading Magistrates Court has since granted a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order (HEPO), confirming the closure and awarding costs to the council.”
It comes after the council successfully obtained a HEPO to close the kitchen of the Shirdi Saibaba Temple in West Street on September 11.
The temple shares the building with My Fruit.
However, the two closures have been determined to be separate.
The spokesperson explained: “The two closures at 44 West Street are entirely separate; however, the premises share a building, therefore, it is possible that there has been migration of cockroaches between the two premises.”
The council can force a business to close using a HEPN.
To confirm the closure, an HEPO must be obtained at a Magistrates’ Court hearing.
After that, the business will remain closed until the council’s environmental health team is satisfied that the business no longer presents a health risk.
