BT ordered to pay more than £24,000 over street works safety failures
BT has been ordered to pay more than £24,000 after admitting four offences linked to unsafe street works in the Cumberland Council area.
The telecommunications company pleaded guilty to failures involving the signs and safety measures used around work taking place on public roads.
BT received fines totalling more than £18,000. Once legal costs and other charges were included, the company was ordered to pay a total of £24,182.99.
The prosecution was brought by Cumberland Council as part of its efforts to improve safety and make sure utility companies follow the rules when working on the highway.
Failures involved signs, lights and barriers
The offences concerned failures to properly sign, light and guard areas where street works were being carried out.
These measures are often referred to as signing, lighting and guarding, or SLG. They include warning signs, barriers, lights and safe routes around areas where roads or pavements have been disturbed.
Companies carrying out street works have a legal duty to use suitable safety measures. This is designed to protect drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, including people with disabilities who may find it harder to move safely around an obstruction.
Poorly marked works can create risks, particularly during bad weather, at night or where people are forced to leave the pavement and enter the road.
Council promises further enforcement
Councillor Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council’s executive member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said street works were needed to maintain important infrastructure but must be completed safely.
She said the prosecution sent a clear message that companies working on Cumberland’s roads must follow the rules.
Councillor Rollo added that the council would not hesitate to take enforcement action when work put members of the public at risk or fell below the expected standard.
She also thanked the council’s highways and legal teams for their work in bringing the prosecution.
Street works will be monitored
Cumberland Council said it would continue to closely monitor work taking place across its road network.
The authority plans to work with organisations that meet the required standards while taking stronger action against those that fail to comply with safety rules.
Street works can affect residents, local businesses and people travelling through an area. The council said holding companies to account would help reduce disruption and protect road users.
Residents and businesses are being encouraged to report concerns about unsafe street works or possible damage to roads and pavements.
The council said reporting problems at an early stage could allow officers to investigate and arrange for issues to be corrected before they cause further disruption or place the public at risk.
