Severn Trent Water fined for Shrewsbury road closure

Severn Trent Water Ltd has been ordered to pay more than £8000 after a road closure in Shrewsbury remained in place during peak hours, and outside of the permitted times.

At Telford Magistrates Court on 15 April [2019] Severn Trent pleaded guilty to offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007.

The offences were in relation to work to install a water main on Ellesmere Road on 18 and 19 September 2018. The works failed to comply with regulations resulting in a road closure remaining in place on a main commuter route into Shrewsbury during peak rush hour traffic.

The road closure was required to be removed by 6am, but remained in place until 9.30am. This caused considerable disruption to commuters and residents and led to a number of complaints.

Severn Trent Water Ltd was fined a total of £4000 for the offences and ordered to pay £4476.76 costs and a £170 victim surcharge.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and parking, said:

“This extended road closure during morning peak traffic hours caused severe disruption and generated a large number of complaints. 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.”