A takeaway van has been given one final chance to make improvements after a slew of poor hygiene, waste and immigration issues.
BBQ King in Winnersh has been allowed to continue operation subject to re-inspection – but told if this is failed, its licence will be removed.
The manager, Muammer Kenan Mursaloglu appeared in front of a Wokingham Borough Council licensing and appeals sub-committee earlier this month.
He told councillors that closing his business, which had been in Wokingham for 30 years, would have negative impacts on his family and financial situation.
A council officer, who recommended the council revoked street trading permission, claimed the vendor had wasted a ‘disproportionate amount of council time’.
The van has been located on King Street in Winnersh since 2019. Since then, it has had frequent complaints and issues over waste management, food hygiene, alleged drug offences, and immigration offences.
The business had been given a food hygiene rating of one – the lowest you can receive – in October 2023.
Wokingham Borough Council officials found there to be no hot water on the premises, and that staff were not washing their hands. Raw meat was also being stored above safe temperature.
In March 2024, Thames Valley Police visited the food vendor on suspicion of drug offences. While no drugs were found, one male employee was arrested for an immigration offence, after officers discovered he had been overstaying his welcome in the UK.
A resident had also complained about waste management, alleging that BBQ King was tipping used cooking oil on grass, which was attracting rats.
Complaints were also made to the council over the van not being moved outside of operating hours.
While legally a street vendor must remove the van after the close of trading each day, Mr Mursaloglu’s van was being left at the pitch overnight, and was often opening later than the time agreed on the licence agreement.
The hearing said Mr Mursaloglu must do a deep clean of his van and make improvements to the fridge and hot water facilities to address hygiene shortfalls.
He must also draw up written contracts for staff, who had been employed on a casual basis historically.
Street trading can continue, subject to a random inspection, that will take place in August.
Although the decision was not unanimous, the sub-committee recognised ‘willingness to improve and comply with the conditions, and that some improvements had already been put in place’.
