Dozens of reports of businesses opening during lockdown in Walsall
More than 90 businesses across Walsall have been checked on to ensure they are not opening illegally during lockdown.
Since the Government implemented the business restrictions, 91 businesses have been reported to environmental health and either visited, written to or called to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities.
To date only one premises has had to have formal action in the form of a prohibition or ‘closure’ notice taken against it for continuing to trade despite warnings and around 30 are being monitored or engaged with.
Trading standards officers have also been dealing with issues such as price hiking, product safety, counterfeiting, scams, and rogue trading.
Environmental health and trading standards officers said they are grateful to all those supporting them in their efforts to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the borough by alerting the teams to potential breaches of the new legislation and guidance.
The main concerns raised so far are around pubs allegedly having ‘lock-ins’ but also vape shops, gyms, barbers shops and other retail premises staying open but behind closed doors.
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Councillor Garry Perry portfolio holder for regulatory services at Walsall Council, said: “In the early days of the lockdown we logged 70 complaints around businesses opening unlawfully and other businesses stockpiling and increasing prices on goods and I’m pleased to say that reports of this type of sharp practice and unlawful opening have reduced.
"Those shops we received complaints about were visited by us, or were written to and informed of the potential penalties for carrying out unlawful activity such as ‘price-hiking.’
"As people and businesses have got used to the lockdown, those who thought they’d make fast gains realised that consumers have long memories and that the bad publicity of short-term illegal openings or over pricing will harm their trade in the longer term.
“It’s very encouraging that so many businesses are helping us in the fight against Covid-19 and so few have breached the current advice.
"On another positive note trading standards and environmental health are also working with many local businesses that have offered their services to either set up or help with bottling and the distribution of hand sanitisers, and home deliveries of food and have also asked for our guidance around compliance with social distancing, labelling and safety rules.
"Well done that’s the business and community spirit that we all recognise and applaud!”
