Wolverhampton KFC closed due to cockroaches

A major fast food restaurant has been closed to the public after becoming infested by cockroaches. KFC, on Queen Square, in Wolverhampton, was shut early last night.

It comes after the council's food and environmental safety department reported that cockroaches had been discovered in food preparation areas.

A sign on the front window of the fast food joint said it had been closed for the evening due to unforeseen circumstances. A notice from Wolverhampton Council confirmed the reason behind the closure of KFC.

It read that the closure was because of "an active cockroach infestation in the food preparation and handling areas, leading to an imminent risk to public health of people eating at the premises".

Another KFC sign on the window noted: "We are aware of the situation and we are working alongside EHO (Environmental Health Officers) and Pest Control to rectify the issues. Sorry for any inconvenience."

Councillor Ian Claymore, vice-chairman of the city council's licensing committee, said no restaurant was too big to avoid stringent checks from health and safety inspectors.

"There are various standards that we expect all premises to operate under," he said. "If they contravene them the city council will take the relevant action.

"Because of this health aspect the officers are quite correct in closing down that particular building for the safety of customers.

"Whatever the premises, they operate under the various conditions of which licences are granted.

"They must enforce those conditions. If not, they must accept responsibility for their actions.

"This is for the benefit, for obvious reasons, of the people of Wolverhampton."

KFC is the second city centre chain to suffer creature-based hygiene problems in the past 18 months.

In March last year, the Varsity bar in Stafford Street – which has now shut its doors for good after being taken over by the University of Wolverhampton – was forced to shut its kitchen because of rats.

By Tim Spiers