Utility companies failed to safeguard road users

Prosecutions and Claims |
08.04.2008

Three public utility companies have been fined for failing to protect members of the public from roadworks in Hampshire.

On 2 April, Scottish and Southern Energy, Southern Gas Networks and Portsmouth Water Company were together fined more than £6000 after pleading guilty to failing to put up safety barriers around their work sites.

Officers from Hampshire County Council discovered the breaches during routine site inspections last year.

Scottish and Southern Energy was fined £815 for a breach discovered on 13 December. Fareham magistrates heard that the site manager allowed work to continue despite the absence of the barriers. Michael Rapp, defending, said the lorry carrying the barriers had been delayed and work continued because of time pressures.

Southern Gas Networks was fined £3463 for failures at three sites on 26 September and 12 November. In a statement, Adrian Nicholas apologised for the firm's actions and said it had reviewed procedures to ensure such incidents would not happen again.

Portsmouth Water Company was fined £1847 for not using sufficient barriers on 18 October and 30 November. Peter Latham, defending, noted that the firm had carried out 136,000 maintenance jobs since 1991 and this was the first time it had been prosecuted.

Councillor Mel Kendal, Hampshire County Council's executive member for environment, said: "We won't tolerate non-compliance by utilities companies when it comes to the proper signing, lighting and guarding of their works on the highway.

"The safety of the travelling public - particularly pedestrians - is paramount, and adequate signing and guarding is vital.

"We will work with the utility companies to ensure that we achieve the best job possible."