Severn Trent Water ordered to pay £43,000 for traffic management offences
Severn Trent work in Chester Street, Shrewsbury in July 2023
Severn Trent Water has been ordered to pay more than £43,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to eight offences relating to the unsafe implementation of traffic management measures across Shropshire – in a prosecution brought by Shropshire Council.
The charges also related to the unauthorised closure of a road in Whittington and leaving in place road works after the completion of works in Market Drayton.
The charges relate to work carried out between March and September 2023. The sentencing was at Telford Magistrates Court on 12 February 2024
The offences were contrary to either the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 or the Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007
The total penalty for all offences was £35,510, plus costs of £6002.92, and a victims surcharge of £2,000 – a total of £43,512.92.
In one case, Shropshire Council inspections officer found that Shropshire Street in Market Drayton had been closed and traffic diverted into a road that was already closed for Shropshire Council works – causing disruption and safety concerns.
And on another occasion, an inspector found that work was being carried out on the B4368 near Munslow without any traffic control at all.
Work in Top Street, Whittington in April 2023
Chris Schofield, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for planning and regulatory services, said:
“Shropshire Council is responsible for regulating works taking place on our network of roads and any avoidable breaches that disrupt the flow of traffic and safety of the network are taken extremely seriously, as this prosecution shows.
“All of these offences arose from a misuse of the statutory legislation that, if used correctly reduces the impact of such works on the road users, local communities and businesses, thus reducing inconvenience.
“We’re pleased the court agreed that – given the seriousness nature of the offences in respect of the potential harm to the public – the ultimate responsibility rested with Severn Trent Water, despite their suggestion that it was down to issues with their contractors.”
“We hope this prosecution serves as a warning to all utilities companies, and reassures road users that we will take action against companies that break the law.”
The charges to which Severn Trent pleaded guilty were:
21 March 2023 at B4368 from Munslow to former Bridgnorth District boundary. Failure to adequately sign, light and guard part of the B4368, and failure to place, maintain and operate such traffic signs as were reasonably required
13-17 April 2023 at Top Street, Whittington. Carrying our works in the street without a permit.
21 May 2023 on the unnamed road from A529 Junction Woodseaves, Crickmerry, Market Drayton. Works took place with a road closure in operation despite the permit stating that no carriageway incursion would be used.
10 May 2023 at Shropshire Street, Market Drayton
Shropshire Street, Market Drayton
- Despite being informed of the inadequacies on site and being asked to stop excavating, make site safe and re-open the road, operatives continued to work unsafely and caused disruption and inconvenience to persons using the street.
- Failure to adequately sign, light and guard part of Shropshire Street, and failure re to place, maintain and operate traffic signs.
25 July 2023 at Chester Street, Shrewsbury. Failure to ail to adequately sign, light and guard part of Chester Street in connection with street works, and failure to place, maintain and operate traffic signs.
11 September 2023 at Shropshire Street, Market Drayton.
- Road closure had been left in operation until 09:30 on Monday 11 September 2023, when it should have been removed at 6pm the previous day.
- Failure adequately sign, light and guard part of Shropshire Street, and failure to place, maintain and operate such traffic signs.
