Five more licensed premises in the borough have been hit with fixed penalty notices (FPNs) after failing to comply with COVID-19 regulations.
Under UK law, businesses must create a QR code for display in their premises, which customers can scan on arrival using the NHS COVID-19 app. Doing so helps the NHS to trace and stop the spread of coronavirus.
Three local takeaways have fallen foul of these regulations and were served with £1,000 FPNs after visits by St Helens Borough Council’s environmental health and licensing officers. For the first FPN a concession of 50 percent is available if paid within 14 days.
The Limassol on Baldwin Street, Chan’s on North Road and The Sheesh on Duke Street all accepted the fines and paid early meaning the charge is reduced to £500.
Meanwhile, Mollies bar on Duke Street and The Foresters Arms on Main Stree, Billinge were both caught failing to comply with Tier 2 restrictions – serving drinks without a substantial meal – and was handed an FPNs in December.
Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities, said:
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our licensing and environmental health teams, together with Merseyside Police, have offered considerable support and guidance to local businesses to help them adapt to and remain compliant with the latest coronavirus legislation. And the vast majority have co-operated and made great efforts to do what the rules have required, despite their difficult and changing nature.
“Enforcement is always a last resort and not something we want to do, but our priority has to be the safety of our residents, and where we cannot achieve compliance with support and guidance we will not hesitate to take legal action.”
