Business hit with £10,000 fine for ‘repeatedly’ breaching Covid restrictions
Sheffield City Council says it has issued its first £10,000 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) to a business repeatedly breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
The fine was handed to Speedy Car Wash on Sheffield Road in Tinsley, after it was caught opening during lockdown for the fourth time.
Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of £1,000, £2,000 and £4,000 had already been issued to the business following complaints that it was operating as a non-essential business.
The council says the premises is under further monitoring and it is seeking an application for notice to close. If the outstanding fines are not paid the owner may be prosecuted.
Seven other fines were given to businesses in Sheffield, during the last two weeks, for operating outside of lockdown rules including other car washes, hairdressers and gyms.
Sheffield City Council says since the start of the pandemic, more than 3,400 reports of non-compliant premises or Covid related complaints have been made.
During this time its officers have made more than 8,300 visits to advise and support businesses across the city and check they are compliant with Covid regulations.
In total, more than 450 warning letters have been sent and 37 FPNs and 15 Prohibition Notices (orders to close) served to non-compliant businesses.
Councillor Mark Jones, cabinet member for environment, streetscene and climate change, said: “We take our duty to protect the public and prevent the spread of Covid-19 very seriously.
“I understand it’s a really hard time for businesses, but it’s essential that we all uphold the rules so that we can get out of this situation.
“We will take action against those who show no regard for the legislation and use the powers at our disposal to put a stop to them. Their actions undermine the sacrifices made by all other compliant businesses in the city.
“Our officers are working extremely hard, day and night, every day of the week, to keep people safe and we can’t allow the few to set us all back in our continued efforts to control virus transmission.”
