Arun gets tough on restaurants

The notice was served against Mohammed Abdul Monnan, of Horsham Road, after complaints about the strong smells emanating from the Tajdar Indian Restaurant, owned by Monnan.

In a statement which will affect Bognor restaurant owners, Cllr Paul Wotherspoon, cabinet member for the environment, said: 'The council will take action against anyone who does not comply with Environmental Health regulations, and this includes nuisance odours.'

The Findon restaurant owner was ordered to pay 6,500 costs and been given a 12-month conditional discharge. He was sentenced last month following a two-day trial at Worthing Magistrates' Court.

'We are pleased the court ruled in our favour and has taken action against Mr Monnan for ignoring his abatement order and consequently upsetting his neighbours,' Cllr Wotherspoon said.

Mr Monnan, who pleaded not guilty, was prosecuted after failing to comply with an abatement notice served against him by Arun District Council's Environmental Health Department.

An investigation carried out by a senior food safety officer identified a '˜Statutory Odour Nuisance' resulting in the serving of the abatement notice.

The notice ordered Mr Monnan to provide and install a new kitchen ventilation system in order to prevent the potent smells from escaping and disturbing his neighbours.

But he neglected to install the new ventilation within the deadline set by the council.

Even after putting the proper ventilation in place, complaints continued and eight separate reports of non-compliance were registered by Environmental Health between August 2006 and January 2007.

These actions led to the pursuance of legal proceedings by the council, resulting in Mr Monnan's prosecution.