Sheffield car wash owner fined £10,000 for breaking Covid rules - as council find hairdressers and gyms staying open

Sheffield City Council issued its first £10,000 Fixed Penalty Notice for Covid breaches to the owner of Speedy Car Wash on Sheffield Road, Tinsley, for continuing to operate during lockdown despite previous fines and warnings.

Fines of £1,000, £2,000 and £4,000 had already been issued following complaints that it was operating as a non-essential business, but when the car wash was found operating for the fourth time the maximum penalty available – a £10,000 fine – was issued.

The council has warned that if the fines are not paid, the owner may be prosecuted.

Seven other fines have been issued to businesses over the last two weeks for operating during lockdown, with other car washes, hairdressers and gyms caught in the act.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 3,400 reports of non-compliant premises or Covid related complaints have been made to Sheffield Council, resulting to council officers visiting more than 8,300 premises.

In the last two weeks alone, more than 200 visits have taken place.

In total, more than 450 warning letters have been sent, 37 fines have been issued and and 15 closure orders have been served to non-compliant businesses.

Councillor Mark Jones, Cabinet Member for Environment, Streetscene and Climate Change, said: “We take our duty to protect the public and prevent the spread of Covid-19 very seriously.

“I understand that it’s a really hard time for businesses, but it’s essential that we all uphold the rules so that we can get out of this situation. We will take action against those who show no regard for the legislation and use the powers at our disposal to put a stop to them. Their actions undermine the sacrifices made by all other compliant businesses in the city.

“Our officers are working extremely hard, day and night, every day of the week, to keep people safe and we can’t allow the few to set us all back in our continued efforts to control virus transmission.

“The number of complaints we are receiving each week demonstrates that most people are playing their part and do not condone these breaches, we are very grateful to everyone who helps us with this intelligence and encourage others to report any issues.”

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