Somerset Council Fines Broadband Company

Jurassic Fibre Ltd fined nearly £13,000 due to excessive disruption on 3 occasions.

14:17 20 July 2022

Jurassic Fibre Ltd, a broadband company that has been digging up roads in Wellington, has to pay nearly £13,000 for breach of regulations and causing excessive disruption on 3 occasions. 

 

Somerset County Council, which is responsible for managing the road work, prosecuted the firm, which pled guilty at the earliest opportunity. 

 

Jurassic Fibre Ltd carried out street works on Taunton Road, blocking a dedicated cycle path and pedestrian footway in the process. This is a violation of section 65 of the new roads and street works act of 1991. 

 

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 severity of the fines was lessened as Jurassic Fibre Ltd is a new company and because the firm took responsibility for the breach of regulations at the earliest opportunity.