BROADBAND provider Airband Community Internet has been hit with fines and charges totalling more than £11,000 for failing to ensure the safety of the public while doing work in Kingston St Mary.
Somerset Council prosecuted the firm, which pleaded guilty at Taunton Magistrates Court earlier this month, to two offences following works carried out in the village.
These were both committed on November 21 and were as follows:
- Airband carried out street works at Nailsbourne Road, Kingston St Mary, in contravention of S65 of NRSWA 1991 by failing to install traffic management to ensure the safety of the travelling public affected by the works.
- The company carried out street works at Dodhill Road, Kingston St Mary, Somerset, again in contravention of S65 of NRSWA 1991 by failing to ensure the safety of the public.
The NRSWA 1991 imposes a statutory duty on Somerset Council to co-ordinate works in and around the county to protect the public, to minimise inconvenience to road users and to protect the structure and integrity of streets and any equipment.
The framework sets out the duty of operators like Airband to make sure the correct safety standards are in place.
In passing sentence, the court gave full credit to Airband for guilty pleas entered at the earliest opportunity and accepted in mitigation that Airband showed genuine remorse and took steps to remedy the breaches and ensure compliance with NRSWA 1991 in the future
The company was sentenced to fines totalling £7,400, costs of £2,282 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.