A HAYES restaurant owner has spoken out over a zero star health and safety rating from the Food Standards Agency.

Jeganraj Velauthapillai, who owns and runs South Indian restaurant Sarasas on Uxbridge Road, is one of 13 businesses in the Hillingdon borough since October 2014 to have received the lowest possible rating, which means urgent improvement in food hygiene is necessary.

But he insists it was simply down to bad timing. Having brought in a builder to refit his kitchen, he was hamstrung when the workman was delayed, leaving structural problems in his kitchen.

Mr Velauthapillai said: “I feel she’s been very harsh on me, I don’t deserve zero, I feel I deserve at least three.

“I worked really, really hard for nine years, 12 hours a day, seven days, to build up this business, I was very disappointed to get zero. “She saw that it’s bad and then obviously because of that, the structural damage and all that, she gave us a zero.

He said he explained the incomplete building work was temporary, but alleged this was ignored by the FSA representative.

“I don’t think she was willing to listen, but I did explain to her,” he said.

“All I know is that I don’t deserve zero.”

The restaurateur said the structural issues with the kitchen were resolved when he brought in another builder to complete the work.

“I understand that it’s a problem with the tiles and now we have a different builder, who has done the tiles up and it’s looking really great,” he said.

“I had to reapply. It can take a month or two months to get the new score back from the council.”

He added: “This is my livelihood, for me, for my staff, everybody.”

A Hillingdon Borough Council spokesperson said: "Sarasas restaurant failed to meet the set criteria and remained a zero rating.

“The business can appeal if they do not agree with the council's decision, however, we have received no appeal following either of our inspections.

“Inspections were carried out in February and again in September and the business remained a zero rating.”

Mr Velauthapillai insisted all issues were being dealt with and is now eagerly awaiting the return of Food Standards Agency inspectors.