Restaurant forced to close after breaching social distancing rules

A restaurant in Oadby has been served with a closure notice for not complying with social distancing rules.

The Tipu Sultan restaurant, on the Parade, will close for at least a month after the order was served by Leicestershire County Council in consultation with Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.

Gary Connors, head of regulatory services for Leicestershire County Council, said: “The order has been issued following non-compliance with social distancing as well as other issues brought to our attention about the use of the premises. The concerns constitute a serious and imminent threat to public health and given the rapid rise of cases in the borough, we have no alternative but to use our new powers.

Mike Sandys, director of public health for Leicestershire County Council, added: “This steep rise in cases in the borough is off the scale – and underlines that residents need to change their behaviour.

“Businesses and restaurants play a vital role in getting the situation under control and we will take action where we believe it poses a health risk to residents.”

New measures announced by the Government last Friday (September 18) mean that from 22 September, residents cannot socialise with people they don’t live with in private homes and gardens.

The move comes after rates in the borough shot up to 145 per 100,000 people – over three times the national and Leicestershire averages – and placing it second in the country.

Last month, the venue’s sister restaurant in Birmingham was hit with a Direction Order from Birmingham City Council after it was found to be breaching Covid-19 guidelines.