Interesting picture from Blackburn of greengrocer's shop

This picture was taken in Whalley Range, Blackburn, on 30th April 2005 in the afternoon when a protest march was organised against Jack Straw.

The premises to the right, behind the ample police presence are those where the registrations of voters was remarked on in the Sunday Times. Imediately to the right of the picture is the greengrocer's, Akhtars(belonging to Councillor Akhtar) - you can just see the A of the surname on the blind. Anyone may make their own views as to the absence of curtains, blind, ornaments etc., which might suggest anyone is resident in the upper rooms....or not. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph on Monday 9/5/05 report Council Leader Cllr Kate Hollern claiming that the registration of 10 voters at the premises was a"clerical error".

"My understanding ..is people were registered twice ..it was due to a "clerical error " at the council.They moved out ... while it was refurbished and told the council such, but their names were not removed from the address.The people didn't vote twice."

It's re-assuring to know that if you were on the march, Vid Kid from PC PLod Video Productions will have you on fillum. Whether you are re-assured that the council leader knows if those people voted, once, twice or more times is another matter. Perhaps Vid Kid should have been filluming the voters at the local Polling Station ?... or maybe he was ?

Incidentally these premises were recently reported to be the subject of prosecution for several breaches of Food Hygiene regulations. see Lancs Evening Telegraph ...

Grocer fined for hygiene offences February 26th 2005

A shopkeeper was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £615 costs by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to food hygiene and labelling offences. Akhtar Hussain, owner of Akhtar's Food Store, Whalley Range, pleaded guilty to four offences of selling food past its use by date and one of selling food which was not labelled as required.

The court heard that environmental health officers found cheese, baloney and salami on sale in the shop which was as much as 46 days past the use by date. Some soft drinks had labels in French.

A solicitor's letter (Mr Akhtar was in Pakistan at the time) read to the court said Hussain had been in retail business since 1972 and had no previous convictions. He had believed his supplier had responsibility for removing out-of-date goods but had now employed a part-time worker to ensure there was no repeat.

A little later the premises ran foul of the law again.... LET report 18th April 2005

A COUNCILLOR has been ordered to clean up his act by his council leader after committing breaches of health and safety regulations at his food shop. Council Leader Cllr Kate Hollern told Hussain Akhtar he should be setting a positive example- and that the case proved that councillors did not receive any special treatment.

He received a formal caution in relation to a routine food hygience inspection on March 30, when mouse droppings were found at Akhtar's Food Store, Whalley Range, Blackburn. He was also cautioned for obstructing the highway with pallets and boxes outside his shop.

Adam Scott, director of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "Mr Hussain was formally cautioned for offences under the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Highways Act 1980.

"The evidence collated by our officers will remain on file to be used should another infringement occur.

It isn't the first time Coun Akhtar has fallen foul of rules about blocking pavements. (Cotninued the newspaper report)

In 1998, he was forced to stop selling goods on the street after traders being prosecuted for similar offences following a clampdown pointed out his offences.

He had been due to appear in court but opted to accept the caution instead.