The council has been alerted that some shops in Ealing are not complying with the latest lockdown closure requirements and officers will be visiting high streets and town centres this week to take enforcement action against those businesses found to be flouting the law.
As part of national lock down requirements that came into effect from 5 November, certain businesses must close or severely restrict their activities until 2 December, as part of efforts to limit contacts between people to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
The council has found that some shops have been ignoring or attempting to subvert the regulations by beginning to stock ‘essential’ products in the hope this will allow them to trade through the restricted period.
There have been particular issues with:
- Clothing stores and tailors
- Homeware stores
- Tobacco and vape shops
- Electronic goods and mobile phone shops.
All of which the government have clearly stated must close until 2 December.
The council will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to business owners that do not comply with the regulations and fines will be issues to businesses who refuse to follow them.
Prohibition notices will be served this week on those businesses that are failing to comply, and further prosecution may be considered.
Fixed penalty notices may also be issued immediately and without warning where our officers witness breaches of these regulations with fines beginning at £1,000 rising to £10,000 where continuing non-compliance is observed.
Councillor Joanna Camadoo-Rothwell, Ealing Council’s lead member for community safety and inclusion said: “We believe that many businesses have taken their responsibilities seriously and followed the lockdown restrictions but, unfortunately, it has come to our attention that a number of shops have chosen to ignore the rules and are putting everyone else’s sacrifices and the success of the restrictions at risk.
“We know that this a challenging time for our businesses and want to work with shops to help them to follow the law so that we can all come out of this lockdown as quickly as possible.
“However where businesses are acting irresponsibly we have no choice but to take enforcement action against them. These businesses are damaging the aim of the latest lockdown restrictions by not complying with the closure requirements. It’s important that everyone observes them, so we all keep Ealing safe.”
However where businesses are acting irresponsibly we have no choice but to take enforcement action against them. These businesses are damaging the aim of the latest lockdown restrictions by not complying with the closure requirements. It’s important that everyone observes them, so we all keep Ealing safe.”
Details on the latest government guidance are available on the ealing.gov.uk website. Further guidance for retail businesses is available on the council’s Help for Business web pages.
Businesses can also email covid19businesscompliance@ealing.gov.uk for further advice, guidance and bespoke support..
Residents who are concerned a business in Ealing is ignoring the closure restrictions, can notify us by emailing covid19businesscompliance@ealing.gov.uk.
