A broadband company, which has been digging up roads in Wellington to install fibre optic cables has had to pay nearly £13,000 after being taken to court for breaches of regulations. Somerset County Council is responsible for managing the road network and prosecuted Jurassic Fibre Ltd due to excessive disruption on 3 occasions.

The case, heard at North Somerset Magistrates found Jurassic  Fibre Ltd guilty of three offences. Two of those offences were in Wellington with a further offence in Creech St Michael.

Jurassic Fibre Ltd carried out street works at Taunton Road, Wellington, blocking a dedicated cycle Path and pedestrian footway, which posed a danger to all those affected by the works. This was in direct contravention of section 65 of the new roads and street works act of 1991. A fine of £3,000 was issued for this charge. Jurassic fibre also carried out the road works without a valid permit from the county council, a further £3,000 fine was issued for this breach.

The third offence was issued from roadworks carried out in Creech St Michael, whereby failing to put traffic management to ensure the safety of pedestrians caused another fine of £2,000 to be issued.

Somerset County Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital Cllr Mike Rigby said: “As a local authority, we are responsible for implementing our statutory duty to prevent the public from unlawful and unsafe street works.” He continued: “It is vitally important to hold companies to account and uphold the relevant safety standards and provide information to the highways authority. We cannot allow instances where utilities carry out works without obtaining a valid permit, if this happens, we expect suppliers to feel the full force of the law.”

The fines against Jurassic Fibre Ltd totalled £8,000.00 with costs of £4,500 and a surcharge of £190.00 awarded against them. The severity of the fines was lessened after the court accepted that Jurassic Fibre Ltd was a new company, not only to the area but to the service and operation in the sector of street works. This particular occasion was the first prosecution of the company in the county which pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.