Council blasts Evenwood pizza shop over 'gunge and mess'

THE owners of a pizza shop have been blasted for leaving mess, gunge and food waste outside their premises – just months after the business was given a zero food hygiene rating under its previous management.

Pizza Central, in Evenwood, was awarded the worst possible hygiene rating in January and told that urgent improvements were needed.

It is understood the takeaway is now under new management and a food inspector is due to carry out another inspection to see if the issues raised earlier this year have been addressed. In January, inspectors said Pizza Central had “bad” food hygiene and safety and “bad” structural compliance. The council’s team also noted that they had “little” confidence in the management.

Despite a takeover at the business, residents say are still disgusted by the state of the shop. Recent photos supplied by Evenwood Parish Council show food waste dripping from the drains, building debris and a substance claimed to be cooking fat on the ground outside.

The matter was brought before parish councillors last week. Parish chairwoman Cllr Barbara Nicholson said: “The whole area is filthy. They have a bin but they don’t use it. I’ve taken photos and there is gunge coming out of the drain. There is sauce. There are pizza boxes. There is oil every morning. It’s not the customers, it’s them.”

She has complained to Durham County Council but has grown frustrated by a lack of action, councillors were told.

“I’ve come to the end of my tether about it,” added Cllr Nicholson, who said she often takes it upon her self to tidy the area around the shop.

A spokesman for the business confirmed it was under new management but declined to comment further.

Durham County Council says it isn’t able to reveal its last food hygiene report until another inspection has been carried out. 

"However, its basic report from January said major improvement was necessary at Pizza Central in hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage. Major improvement was also called for in cleanliness and condition of facilities and checks to ensure that food sold is safe to eat."