Saltash-based Tamar View Nurseries Ltd pleaded guilty to eight serious food and health and safety offences at Bodmin Magistrates recently, and was fined £21,000.

The company was ordered to pay an additional £7,038 for Cornwall Council's legal costs. Routine inspections by the council's public health and protection officers highlighted eight breaches.

As a result the owner was interviewed under caution about the storage of LPG gas, working at height and food safety matters including issues of cleanliness in the kitchen and cross-contamination of stored foods.

Cornwall council found the Tamar View's food safety management system below par, saying it was not being operated correctly. It also told magistrates the company had "put the safety of both public and its own staff at risk due to breaches of health and safety and food safety law."

The mitigation, advanced on behalf of Tamar View Nurseries ltd, was on the basis that the firm had fully taken on board its responsibility under food and health and safety law and had engaged a health and safety consultant to assist in ensuring the appropriate standards were maintained from now on.

The company has also now appointed a new chef to oversee the improvement in kitchen standards. It pointed out that until this time Tamar View had had a very good record in relation to both food safety and health and safety and pointed out that no one had actually been injured or made ill.

Cornwall council's portfolio holder for community safety and public protection Lance Kennedy said: "The fines awarded by the magistrates reflect the seriousness of the case. We do try to work with businesses, but we will not hesitate to take formal action through the courts if they ignore our advice and fail to take the appropriate steps to protect the safety of their workers or members of the public."

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