Press Release

THAMES WATER FINED £70,000 FOR STREETWORKS OFFENCES IN CAMDEN

12/3/07

Thames Water has been fined almost £70,000 after pleading guilty to 60 charges of poor standards of work and illegal road closures brought against it by Camden Council. 

The council took the action after the works caused serious disruption to residents in the borough. Thames Water pleaded guilty to the charges at Highbury Magistrates Court on Friday.  In addition to fines totaling £67,250, the council was also awarded £20,000 costs. 

The offences included:

• leaving the roads and footpaths in a poor state after their work was completed
• site safety
• willful obstruction of the public highway
• unauthorised and illegal temporary road closures.

Cllr Mike Greene, Executive Member for Environment, Camden Council, said:

“Poor standards of work and illegal road closures by utilities companies cause major disruption to our residents so Camden Council takes these offences very seriously.  We are extremely pleased at this result and will continue to monitor all utilities’ work to ensure it is done to the high standards we expect.” 

Camden Council’s Highway Management Team co-ordinates all work that takes place on the borough’s roads and pavements, as far as is legally possible.

Members of the public can look up details of works affecting any road within the borough using a special search facility on the council’s website at: www.camden.gov.uk/streetworks.  This provides information on any current or planned street works, temporary traffic restrictions, crane operations or building works affecting the road selected.