Rotherham Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food shut in safety probe

Jamie Oliver opened the Ministry of Food in Rotherham in 2008

Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food project in Rotherham has been temporarily closed down to allow the town's council to probe health and safety concerns.

Rotherham Borough Council said an investigation was started after a member of staff tumbled on a broken step.

The GMB union said concerns centred around a missing stair nose which had been repeatedly reported to bosses.

The council said a "full survey of the premises" is now under way.

GMB spokesman Lee Simpson complained the investigation had only begun after the accident, despite staff concerns being raised about the step "several times".

He said the fall had resulted in a formal complaint being made.

"The GMB firmly believes that the course of action that has been taken is reactive rather than the sensible proactive approach [the council] usually takes with issues of health and safety," he said.

Cuts fear

He said a subsequent inspection had also discovered a missing glass cover on a fire alarm and outdated risk assessment paperwork.

Mr Simpson said the union was concerned the Rotherham Ministry of Food could be closed permanently as part of ongoing council spending cuts.

The council said it did not want to comment on the union's statement regarding its reaction to the safety concerns or the project's financial future at this stage.

It said the premises had been temporarily closed on Wednesday "following health and safety concerns raised recently by the staff and their trade union".

"The closure will also allow for a broader assessment of the suitability of the premises and whether they are fit-for-purpose to deliver the Ministry of Food service in the future," it said.

It said seven staff affected by the closure had been found new temporary positions within the council.

Since it opened in July 2008 the Ministry of Food has shown more than 10,000 people how to cook.

A statement published on the Ministry of Food website said the council and the Jamie Oliver Foundation were working to reopen the shop "at the earliest opportunity".

Peter Berry, head of PR for Jamie Oliver, said the project was not funded by the chef.