An internet service provider has been fined £16,000 and ordered to pay more than £5,000 in costs after being found guilty of two street works offences, following a case brought by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Truespeed Communications Ltd was found guilty at a hearing in Taunton Magistrates Court on the 20th June for breaching Section 60 and 65 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

The court heard how Truespeed carried out street works in Peasedown St John late last year to install a fibre broadband cable in Braysdown Lane. The site was inspected by a Bath & North East Somerset Council Street Works Inspector, who found an open excavation with numerous safety failings. 

Truespeed did not attend the hearing and was fined by the court for the street works that were left unsafe.

As well as the £16,000 fine, Truespeed was also ordered to pay £5,793 to cover Bath & North East Council’s costs as well as a £2,000 victim surcharge.

Following the court hearing, Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport said: “Our Inspector found the state of the site left by Truespeed unsafe and unacceptable. We want to be clear that we take all breaches like this very seriously indeed and if necessary, won’t hesitate to prosecute companies that put our residents at risk."

“We are pleased with the court’s judgement, which serves as a reminder to all utility companies operating in our district that we will hold them accountable for the standard of their work on our highways.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council employs Street Works Inspectors, who monitor the standard of works undertaken by utility companies and ensure they are carried out to an acceptable standard. The council receives more than 12,000 requests to work on highways each year.