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Royal Mail and BT have both been fined thousands for roadworks offences committed across Somerset.
This comes after the two companies were taken to court by Somerset County Council for breaching several laws while working on roads across the county.
Offences included closing a road without notice and failing to comply with safety measures.
They both appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court on October 9 and pleaded guilty to several charges.
The three cases involving BT were at:
Hartrow Cross, Bishops Lydeard
The council says these offences meant it was unable to co-ordinate the works or attempt to minimise any impact on the road network.
Oake Road, Bradford on Tone
- BT installed temporary traffic signals which did not comply with safety legislation. This posed a safety risk to both the travelling public and the site operatives. BT was fined £10,500.
Silver Street, Curry Mallet
- BT closed the road without notice, despite knowing that a road closure was required seven days before. It also failed to co-operate with Somerset County Council, meaning the highways authority could not co-ordinate the works or attempt to minimise disruption. It was fined £2,500.
In addition to the fines, a victim surcharge of £170 was applied to all three cases and BT was made to pay £3,352.50 in costs.
The two cases involving Royal Mail were at
Gulway Mead, Tatworth
- Royal Mail incorrectly installed traffic management in breach of the safety code of practice and was fined £4,000.
- It failed to use its best endeavours to co-operate with the highways authority due to incorrect noticing of street works and was fined £4,000.
Holloway Road, Lopen
- Royal Mail incorrectly installed traffic management in breach of safety provisions and was fined £4,000.
- It failed to comply with a direction by SCC highways authority on safety measures and was fined £6,000.
- It failed to use its best endeavours to co-operate with the highways authority. For this it was fined £4,000.
In addition to the fines, a victim surcharge of £170 was applied to both cases and Royal Mail was made to pay £2,509.17 in costs.
Councillor John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “We owe it to our residents and road users to take action when it is justified.
“These offences will have caused unnecessary disruption to the public or put safety at risk. This is not acceptable and we hope these prosecutions will send a clear message to other parties who work on the highway.”
Details of approved roadworks can be found on the council’s map here . If anyone is concerned about roadworks they can flag this up to the council by contacting @TravelSomerset on Twitter.
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