Scoreboards food for thought

Reports on every cafe, kebab shop, restaurant and pub will be available to all diners on Blackburn with Darwen Council's website and www.scoresonthedoors.org.

Grades will be given from A (excellent) to E (poor) based on the risk rating given by environmental health inspectors using the Food Standards Agency Code of Conduct.

The borough's 1,600 food businesses will be assigned a rating based upon, among other things, compliance with policies and procedures, how clean premises are and confidence in the management's ability.

The new system is called Scores on the Doors, even though it is not compulsory for businesses to display their grades, and is already used by 51 local authorities across the UK.

Almost 45,000 establish-ments which sell food are rated online.

Customers in other areas of East Lancashire will have to wait to see if their councils adopt similar schemes.

Coun Peter Clarke, cabinet member for environmental issues for Hyndburn Borough Council, said: "Hyndburn does not run a similar scheme but it is something we may consider in the future."

Sue Graham, Burnley Council's environmental head of planning and environment, said: "We are currently monitoring how the scheme is being rolled out in other areas of the country and will be looking at the results of these pilot trials as soon as they available.

"As a council we are currently running our own scheme in the borough called the Catering for Health Awards in partnership with the primary care trust and other organisations.

"This encourages local restaurants and other businesses such as cafes, pubs and takeaways to apply for the award - the scheme measures such factors as healthy eating options on menus and the standards of hygiene at the premises.

"So far 11 businesses in the borough have been given the accreditation - this is not only good news for them but it also provides valuable guidance for the public when they are eating out."

Customers in Blackburn and Darwen have welcomed the move and say they would use Scores on the Doors.

And owners and managers of businesses which serve food say they feel it could increase their custom and would benefit the customer.

But many also fear some businesses could be ruined on the basis of just one visit.

Asam Hussain, 23, owner of Pizza 2000 in Darwen Street, Blackburn, said that although he was satisfied with the way his business was run, he thought it would be unfair if businesses which did not make the grade did not have a chance to improve before poor results were made public.

He said: "For the people who are genuine and look after their food and take care of things properly it's fair enough, but it's like you are downgrading businesses.

"The council will be sending people to the excellent places and the other places will be closing down.

"I get the new booklets from the council because there are always new rules and regulations coming in so I always tick every box."

Zhaid Hussain, 30, a member of staff at Pizza 2000, said: "I reckon it should be over a six-month period checking health and safety, hygiene, prepa-ration.

"You could have a really bad day when you have got no staff and the health and safety come round, when usually everything is alright."

Caroline Wayne, 30, owns The Godfather takeaway in Blakey Moor and Caesar Pizza House in Northgate, both Blackburn.

She said she was worried that if new management came in the owner may be punished: "It's good for customers; for them it's fantastic," she said. "They can pick a good place before they go in but at the same time maybe if the business changed hands and they haven't had a chance to reflect their own standards in a new business they are going to be judged on somebody else's rating.

"It wouldn't matter that the inspection was good next time around, people will remember that rating, mud will stick."

However she did agree with council bosses that businesses would be forced to sit up, take notice and improve their standards. She said: "It will mean business owners will have to stay on their toes and that is good.

"It can only lead to standards improving, which is better for everyone.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has said the ratings system will force all chip shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants to boost their standards, which can only be good for the customer and will reward hard-working busine-sses.

At the moment consumers can see the Environmental Health inspection reports but have to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

Coun John Slater, the council's executive member for citizens and consumer rights, said: "We thought it would be a good idea to introduce it to push up food hygiene standards and at the end of the day the inspections are available on request anyway.

"We went out and asked business and they were in agreement with it. If you are getting an A or B grading you are going to be very happy and if you get a poor rating you can improve."

He said any business which had a new owner would be able to pay for a new inspection.

Margaret Carus, 64, of Beechwood Drive, Blackburn, a customer of The Refreshment Bar in the town centre, said: "I think it's a good thing and I think I'd use it.

"The other week I went into a place and the food was terrible and if we'd had these ratings then I wouldn't have gone in there."

Also welcoming the news was Bingy Jenkins, 27, of Infirmary in Blackburn who eats in The Chippery in the town centre. Bingy said: "I normally decide on where to go because of the quality and because it's the cheapest but I think I would use the website.

"It's important to know how clean a place is."

The Agency Bar in Warrington, Cheshire, had a poor 0/5 hygiene inspection under the Scores on the Doors scheme in March but director of the Bridge Leisure Group, Steve Lawler, which now controls the bar said he had no problem with the system.

Mr Lawler owned the bar as a partnership but after the rating new management and staff were drafted in and he publicised the change which reassured customers, he said.

"I can't say I have any axe to grind," he said. "I wouldn't say it would lead to the closure of businesses but it's something that needs to be rectified and my business is doing quite well.

"You need to let people know there're new people in."

Quadeer Ahmed, 22, owner of Happy Haddock in Darwen Street, Blackburn, said: "It makes you nervous having an inspection but they have always been alright in the past.

"I think it will bring in more customers and I think businesses should put it out in the spotlight - it brings out the business's true colours.

"I think some businesses won't be up to scratch but they should give them opportunity to change first."

Lorraine Boyd, 24, a supervisor at O'Neills pub in King William Street, Blackb-urn, said she hoped diners who had never thought of visiting O' Neills for food before would be tempted. She said: "I think it will be good if you are not ashamed of your food and what your chefs are doing.

"I suppose this is a good way to get new customers.

"People will look and see the score and come in here for a meal that may never have thought of coming here before."

Andrew Coates, 41, joint owner of Grafters sandwich bar in George Street, Darwen, said: "We consider ourselves one of the best around for service, quality and speed.

"I don't think we'd have any worries about a ratings scheme coming in. It gives you an idea of what to expect before you roll up."