Legal Competence in Environmental Health

Preface

In the case of Welton v North Cornwall DC (1996) it was found that, where an Environmental Health Officer negligently required the owner of food premises to undertake works which were unnecessary to secure compliance with the Food Safety Act 1990 and the owner incurred substantial and unnecessary expense in carrying out the works, the local authority was under a common law duty of care to the owner and liable for the £34,000 in damages.

What this case illustrates are the two themes which have informed the creation and development of this book. Growing public awareness of Environmental Health issues, coupled with necessity and expediency, has promoted a wide range of relevant and complex legislation over recent years. This is against ...