A civil engineering firm has received a hefty fine after being found guilty to a pair of roadworks offences earlier this year.

Somerset County Council is responsible for managing the road network and prosecuted GA Doble(Civil Engineering) Ltd as part of its commitment to minimising disruption and keeping the public safe.

The case, heard at Taunton Magistrates on Wednesday 2 June, was:

Heathfield Drive, Monkton Heathfield

GA Doble(Civil Engineering) Ltd was found guilty to two offences in different locations on Heathfield Drive contrary to section 65(4) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 for failing to ensure that their street works were safely signed, lighted and guarded.

Both offences took place on 17 March 2021.

GA Doble(Civil Engineering) Ltd has been fined £5,000 for each offence (a total of £10,000) and ordered to pay £1,350 in costs and a victim surcharge of £190.

Councillor John Woodman, Somerset County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “As the chair stated in his sentencing, this act was a blatant disregard of the applicable rules.

“To be found guilty to two identical offences on the same road could have had repercussions on the health and safety of the public.

“These fines make it clear that if you want to work on our highways, you must co-operate with the Highways authority and avoid unnecessary disruption on our roads. However, on this occasion, this was ignored.

“Therefore, I’m pleased to see significant fines continually handed out and hope this sends a strong message that we will take action when it is in the public interest to do so.”

Details of approved roadworks can be found on our searchable map at http://www.travelsomerset.co.uk/roadworks. If anyone is concerned about roadworks they can flag this up to the team by contacting @TravelSomerset on Twitter.