Enfield Council inspectors found evidence of rats infesting home and garden retailer The Range

The Range in Mollison Avenue and (insets) evidence of pest infestations gathered by Enfield Council — The Range in Suez Road and (insets) evidence of pest infestations gathered by Enfield Council

A Brimsdown retailer has been fined £250,000 over its failures to control pests on its premises.

The Range in Suez Road failed to ensure adequate procedures were in place, with rats spotted running around the shop alongside faeces and a bad odour.

A successful prosecution by Enfield Council followed inspections by environmental health officers who received complaints from residents of rat sightings and hearing scuttling and squeaking within the store.

CDS Superstores (International) Ltd, trading as The Range, pleaded guilty to two offences that took place between 5th February 2024 and 15th January 2025.

A fine of £100,000 was issued for the first offence, with the company admitting to its failure to ensure adequate procedures were in place to control pests.

During the inspection in February 2024, council officers found a severe rat infestation, along with a strong odour of rat urine and faeces on the floor, shelving and stock. Numerous pet food packs even had visible gnaw marks and stock had spilled out on to the floor.

There was also evidence of faeces and smear marks across pet bedding as well as the floors and shelving with a build-up of grease, hair and body fat which rodents leave as they travel around. The warehouse was found to be disorganised, which allowed pests to find shelter and to remain concealed, with ideal conditions for nesting and breeding.

Due to the imminent risk to and danger to public health, CDS agreed to immediately close the premises and to address the issues identified by council officers.

The Range was reopened by council officers on 13th March 2024 once checks were made to ensure requirements of the voluntary closure agreement had been met.

However, another inspection in January this year found more fresh droppings, and live rats were spotted again in the warehouse.

CDS admitted breaching Regulation 19 of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. The company received a further fine of £150,000 for this offence, and CDS was also ordered to pay the council’s costs of £7,460.

Susan Erbil, the council’s cabinet member for planning and regulatory services, said: “The council’s environmental health officers discovered unacceptable conditions when they visited The Range’s premises in Enfield.

“We took immediate action to close the pet section and remove all food for human consumption from the shop floor and cafe to protect our residents.

“The large fines imposed by the judge in court are justified due to the seriousness of this case. It’s essential that business operators ensure pest control measures are in place and are regularly monitored.”

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