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City restaurant fined for
food safety offences
THE owners of a Thai restaurant in
Liverpool have been fined more than ₤32,500 after pleading guilty to two food
safety breaches. Thai Leisure Group Ltd, which owns Chaoprhaya, based in
Liverpool One, was also made to pay ₤4,207 in costs to the Council and a ₤120
victim surcharge.
The Magistrates Court was told that on Tuesday, 15 March 2016, Environmental
Health Officers (EHO) from Liverpool City Council carried out an unannounced,
routine inspection and found:-
► Extensive mouse droppings: to the rear of a fridge; on shelving in food
preparation area opposite; in main kitchen on shelving containing food
preparation equipment; on floor by sweeping brush and on electrical cabling and
sockets.
► A dead mouse was found in the area housing the motor of the fridge.
► Missing ceiling tiles above refrigeration equipment, and within the void a
number of mouse droppings on the suspended ceiling tiles and on top of the
upright fridge located below the missing tiles.
► 2 glue boards with a number of decomposing mice attached within the ceiling
void above a food preparation area within the kitchen.
► A build up of grease on the cabling and surfaces of the ceiling tiles.
► Various uncovered foods were on display and in various stages of preparation
in the main food preparation areas of the ground floor kitchen.
► A build up of food debris and grease was discovered on floor surfaces and
various equipment surfaces in the kitchen including shelving and cooking
equipment.
► The front preparation counter unclean with food debris having collected in the
interior parts behind the front grille.
► The restaurant's own daily pest check did not offer an accurate description of
the pest activity within the premises.
► The build-up of food debris within the kitchen was also indicative of a lack
of effective, routine cleaning and had the effect of attracting pests to food
preparation areas.
The findings resulted in the immediate closure of the premises, with the
co-operation of the manager, due to the imminent risk to public health.
Officers were also provided with an Audit report dated 29 January, 2016 from
Southall Audits, an independent consultancy company instructed by Chaophraya.
Southall's report noted they were "very concerned" that the pest
issue was "escalating" and warned that without suitable pest proofing and
cleaning:- "if an EHO was to find the evidence we found of rodent activity
during our visit, there would be no question that the business would be closed
and subsequently prosecuted."
The report even recommended the restaurant close and conduct a deep clean of the
entire premises.
Officers were invited to re-visit the restaurant on 21 March 2017. The restaurant was
still closed at this stage and it was decided that conditions still presented an
imminent risk to health and the restaurant wasn't therefore permitted to
re-open.
A further visit took place just a day later, on 22 March 2016 and it was agreed,
following that inspection, that the restaurant could re-open, conditions having
improved sufficiently in the Officers opinion.
The restaurant was subsequently awarded the lowest potential food hygiene rating
of 0 out of 5 indicating that urgent improvement was necessary.
Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet Member for neighbourhoods, said:- "The
Thai Leisure Group has received a very substantial fine which reflects the
extreme seriousness of these charges.
This case sends out a strong message that substandard hygiene in any food outlet
across the City will not be tolerated, and our experienced team of Environmental
Health Officers are prepared to prosecute any business who puts their customers
at risk."
Wirral to host international parks
conference
LEADING lights from some of the world's
most famous public parks are heading to Wirral, in October, as the borough hosts a
major international conference and exhibition.
The World Urban Parks European Congress (WUPEC) comes to Wirral, from 15 October to 19
October 2017, in an event which represents a return home for the urban and municipal
parks movement in a significant year of celebration for Wirral's flagship park.
This year is the 170th Anniversary of the opening of Birkenhead Park, that
happened in 1847,
which is widely acknowledged as the world's 1st municipally funded public
park. Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton it is held up as the inspiration for a
number of famous parks around the world, including the best known of them all;
New York's Central Park.
One of the keynote speakers at WUPEC in Wirral will be Central Park CEO and
President, Doug Blonsky. Doug will be giving a presentation entitled:- 'Sustainable
Cities, Vibrant Parks' which will explore the theme of this year's
conference; a celebration of the heritage of public parks and the role they
play in the community, and their contributions to sustainability.
Doug will be speaking on the 1st full day of the congress, on Tuesday, 17
October 2017, at the Floral Pavilion, in New Brighton. Other notable speakers on that
1st day are Professor Robert Lee, the Chair of the Friends of Birkenhead Park,
and Gil Penalosa, Chair of World Urban Parks.
The 2nd day of the congress also takes place at the Floral Pavilion and
concentrates on the 'sustainability' element of this year's theme. The key note
speaker is Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, while
representatives from organisations such as the National Trust, the Eden Project
and Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag awards are also lined up to speak on the
Wednesday, alongside other speakers from Israel and Washington DC.
Also on the 18th, there is a special symposium taking place celebrating the life
and work of Edward Kemp, 200 years after his birth. Kemp worked with Joseph
Paxton at Chatsworth House and was the 1st superintendent at Birkenhead Park,
and went on to become a designer of parks and landscapes in the North West, such
as Hesketh Park in Southport and Flaybrick Cemetery in Birkenhead. Kemp's
association with Birkenhead Park is commemorated with a blue plaque at the
Visitors' Centre.
The last day of the main congress takes place in Birkenhead Town Hall and aims
to develop the 'heritage' theme with speakers including Dr Christy Boylan
from Dublin's Phoenix Park, Jan Heeren talking about the Amsterdamse Bos and
Birkenhead Park's own Paul Davies.
Cllr Phillip Brightmore, Cabinet member for Environment, said:- "It's a
real honour for Wirral to host this renowned international gathering; welcoming
specialists in public parks and countryside to our beautiful borough. The World
Urban Parks Congress coming to Wirral offers a fantastic opportunity for us to
showcase some of our world-famous green spaces, dedicated staff and brilliant
volunteers. Birkenhead Park inspired the public parks movement around the
world and it will be interesting to hear just how much things have developed
since the Wirral kicked things off in 1847. I'm excited to see local and
international experts share good practice and discuss sustainability, keeping
public parks a priority for another 170 years and beyond."
Outside of the main congress presentations, delegates will also have the chance
to enjoy a range of site visits and tours of important locations including Port
Sunlight and Chatsworth House Gardens in Derbyshire. There are also plenty of
opportunities for people to network, understand national and international
perspectives, support professional development, share best practice and explore
innovative solutions.
For the public of Wirral, there is an opportunity to get a feel for what is set
to take place during a public open day and exhibition, on Monday, 16 October
2017, at
the Floral Pavilion. This is a free event, open to everyone, and at midday on
the Monday Wirral's Mayor, Cllr Ann McLachlan, and Dr Anna Steidle, the Chair of
the World Urban Parks European committee, will cut a ribbon to officially open
the congress.
For details about:- tickets, packages and tours are now available
online.
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New reflective space for patients at
the Scarisbrick Unit
THE Scarisbrick inpatient mental health
unit in Ormskirk officially opened its newly developed reflective space for
patients at an event with representatives from charitable organisations and
healthcare professionals.
Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust's inpatient mental health unit in Ormskirk
officially opened:- 'The Green Room' which will provide a space for
patients to relax, wind down, have a chat or use as a religious or spiritual
environment. The Green Room was officially opened, on Tuesday, 26 September
2017, and
will be accessed by the unit's patients as part of their recovery as well as
members of staff.
The initiative for The Green Room was developed by members of staff from the
Occupational Therapy service who recognised that patients are not always well
enough to access the existing faith facilities within the community which would
be a preferred option. The unit received a number of kind donations including a
television, furniture, spiritual artwork and books provided by Ormskirk Hospital League of Friends, service users, families and faith organisations across
Lancashire.
Kate Halsall, Lead Occupational Therapist for Ormskirk Inpatients at Lancashire
Care NHS Foundation Trust:- "A big part of our jobs is to look at people's
needs that go beyond taking medication. This involves working collaboratively
with patients, listening to their wants and needs and doing our best to meet
them. This project was to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all of our
patients. Having a facility for patients to reflect or take part in therapeutic
activities helps patients to improve the function of their lives and gives them
a sense of who they are. It also helps staff here to understand the patient
better and understand how they are feeling or how they work.
We would like to say a big thank Rydon; who kindly offered to paint the walls
free of charge, The League of Friends and our service users for their kind
donations. We are so pleased to be able to provide this quiet and calm area for
our patients to access prayer books or items, watch calming scenes on the
television or just to enjoy some relaxing time out!"
Pete Hill, Support Worker in the Occupational Therapy Team at Lancashire Care
NHS Foundation Trust said:- "1 of the 1st things we say to a patient
when they arrive here at the Scarisbrick Unit is, "tell me how I can help
you?" As part of this conversation, we often look in to a person's needs
around faith and spirituality as factors in aiding someone to recover is often
helping people to recover their spiritual needs.
I often ask people what keeps them going and what makes them feel connected?
Whether this is going for a walk around the Hospital, feeding the ducks,
watching a football game or visiting an art gallery, we always try to make these
things happen for people. However, in some cases or at that particular stage in
their recovery it is not always possible to get a patient out in to the
community. That is when we started to think about the things we could do that
would make a difference here at the unit.
When we came up with the idea of a reflective space for our patients, I began
spending a lot of time on the road going to see faith leaders and forming those
community partnerships we needed to make it happen. The project has been very
much a team effort and thanks to all of the kind donations we have received, we
are now able to provide this fantastic space for our patients, an appropriate
venue for pastoral care given by faith leaders who visit the unit. This space
will also be offered to staff on the ward as a resource for prayer or time out.
Everything we do is patient centred and whatever the circumstances we always aim
to do the best we can for those in our care. I feel extremely proud of this
achievement and look forward to the next project here at the Scarisbrick unit."
The Scarisbrick Inpatient Unit (SIPU) is a 21 bedded unit based within the
premises of Ormskirk District General Hospital. The unit provides care and
treatment for adult service users who are showing signs and symptoms of acute
functional mental illness. Service users are from the population of Lancashire
and surrounding areas. For more information about the Scarisbrick Unit please go
to the Trust's
website.
Great boost for Liverpool's Capital of
Culture 10th Anniversary celebrations
LIVERPOOL'S 10th Anniversary Capital of
Culture celebrations have received a Great boost. Culture Liverpool has unveiled
that the Great Britain campaign is the 1st major partner of the region's 2018
events and arts programme.
The partnership means that next year's highlight events such as the Tall Ships
Race and the end of the Clipper Around the World Yacht Race will be given even
more of a national and international profile, as the Great Britain campaign will
use its impressive reach across the tourism, culture, investment, export, trade
and education sectors to promote Liverpool's programme and position it as a
must visit destination.
The announcement comes as Liverpool officially launches its sponsorship
programme for 2018.
Conrad Bird, Director of the Great Britain campaign, said:- "We at
Great,
are extremely proud to be the 1st to support the City's 10th Anniversary of
European Capital of Culture 2008.
Liverpool 2018 will provide the City region with another opportunity to boost
the economy and showcase what a great place to work, live, trade and invest
Liverpool is. The Great campaign aims to showcase the best of Britain, but also
what is new and surprising. With what I've seen planned for 2018 Liverpool's
partnership with Great is a perfect fit."
Liverpool's 2018 programme will shine a light on the City's progress since 2008
and its aspirations for the future. Plans are in motion to work with some of the
world's best artists, musicians and cultural organisations to create a programme
which will be integrated into the City's existing annual cultural offer and
transcends the worlds of art, fashion, business and sport.
The aim is to attract audiences of around 4 million people, create
₤100 million economic impact, engage with 50,000 through education and community
initiatives and push Liverpool to the top of the 'must visit' cities in
2018.
Details of the 2018 programme will be announced at the end of October 2017.
Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said:- "2018 is a landmark year for the
City and the wider region, and will be a celebration of Liverpool's position at
the heart of the UK's cultural scene which continually attracts global attention
and exposure.
It's a real coup that the Great Britain campaign is working with us to promote
the tenth anniversary of our cultural title; which has already been several
years in the planning.
The year will be a nod to the success of 2008, but will act as a showcase for
how far we've come in the last ten years in terms of our creative confidence and
innovation, and also sets out a marker for our ambitions for the future.
There is a buzz around the City ahead of our 2018 announcement which is to be
expected given our reputation for staging unforgettable spectacles which engage
audiences and push boundaries. Announcing the partnership with the Great Britain
campaign is an indication of the strength of the programme, and we are excited
about revealing more details in the next month or so."
The City is already promoting its 2018 programme to a global audience by virtue
of its yacht in the Clipper Round the World yacht race which has just completed
its 1st leg, from Liverpool to Uruguay, and returns back to the City in the summer
of 2018.
Another highlight announced includes a special Sgt Pepper's concert by The Royal
Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and The Bootleg Beatles on Saturday, 13 January
2018, at the Liverpool Arena, to reprise their performance to celebrate the 1st ever concert at Liverpool
ACC, back in 2008; performed by the RLPO.
For more details about the Liverpool 2018 sponsorship programme via sending
organisers an
email.
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