ENVIRONMENTAL Health officers at Carlisle City Council had to respond to the concerns of Brampton residents this week after they raised the alarm over rotting vegetables left in the town’s former grocery shop, Fruits and Roots.

Following complaints made to the city council, environmental health officers began an investigation into the state of the premises. A city council spokeswoman stated at the end of last week that officers had “asked for the items to be removed from the former shop”.

Brampton resident Steve Jackson, who lives next to the former Fruits and Roots premises, explained that the owners took action on Sunday morning.

“The fruit and veg was removed on Sunday morning,” Mr Jackson said.

“It goes to show what a smell it was making. Because as soon as it had been removed the smell disappeared totally.

“There was quite a strong smell of onions and potatoes in the shop. It was all taken away, and now the smell has gone.”

The Cumberland News approached the owners of the former Fruits and Roots for comment, but received no response.

David Moorat, chairman of Brampton parish council, outlined how this issue was affecting the town.

“I understand there were rats seen in the neighbourhood,” Mr Moorat said.

“It’s very close to the Spar supermarket. It’s very close to the Moot Hall.

“It’s unpleasant for people to be around there, slap-bang in the middle of the shopping area.”

Mr Jackson explained that environmental health officers arrived in Brampton on Monday morning, ready to take action.

“They were going to issue an abatement notice,” Mr Jackson said.

An abatement notice is a council order that compels whoever is responsible to address a nuisance. Failure to do so can result in prosecution.

“By the time they’d come round on the Monday morning, I was able to tell her there was no need because the produce had been moved, just in time,” Mr Jackson added.

Mr Jackson explained that the Brampton community are keen to understand what was behind the sudden closure of the shop.

“The employees in the shop weren’t told any more than everyone else,” he said.

“They put a notice on the door saying ‘due to personal circumstances it’s closed’ but that’s now been there for about three or four months.”

Brampton residents, said Mr Jackson, would be understanding if a health issue or family bereavement had forced the closure of the premises. But he said owner Liam Gallagher had repeatedly refused offers of assistance and support from the Brampton community.

“A number of people have actually offered to clear the shop out, to help him clear the produce out,” Mr Jackson said.

“And he seemed to resist any offers of help so again, the people of Brampton I think have been considerate and helpful. Yet we’re still left with this mystery of what’s happened and why it’s happened.”

Mr Jackson added that soft fruit, including apricots and tomatoes were left in the store when it had first closed several months ago.

“You could see through the window, you could see them rotting for a couple of weeks.”

The owners did address the problem once residents had made complaints to the city council’s environmental health team.

“Why he didn’t remove it all, goodness knows,” Mr Jackson said.

“I think we’re all pleased that the rotting veg that was in there has gone, and the smell has definitely gone,” he added.

“We’re hoping there’s nothing else going to come out of the shop.”