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Gas company NG Transco guilty of dodgy road repairs
National Grid Transco has been found guilty of 17 offences relating to substandard road repairs. The gas utility company was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £8,715 at Bromley Magistrates Court last week. The successful prosecution of NG Transco for offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 underlines the Council’s commitment to ensure that roads and pavements are safe to use and repaired properly.
“We are not prepared to put up with shoddy repairs. Council tax payers end up footing the bill to rectify problems which have been caused by these substandard repairs. All we want is good quality reinstatements which will not be a danger to the public. We have not seen the necessary improvements in the quality of their work and I call upon NG Transco to improve their repairs” said Councillor George Taylor, Executive Councillor for the Environment.
This was the third occasion that Bromley Council’s Street Services team have taken NG Transco to court regarding offences on the highway. These charges related to poor workmanship and incorrect materials used to repair their holes. Also, NG Transco failed to complete work on time and did not co-operate with the Council by ignoring requests to remedy their poor workmanship. Other charges related to the lack of barriers and signs around the NG Transco excavations causing dangerous situations to pedestrians and drivers.
Residents can report their concerns about utility ‘road works’ to David Lambert, the Council’s Streets Works Manager on 020 8313 4933.
ENDS
Editor’s Notes:
The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 sets out the procedures and guidelines that all utility companies need to adhere to when placing or maintaining their equipment on the highway. The Act and associated Codes of Practice cover the notification requirements, the safety to highway users and the standards required of the reinstatement of all excavations on the highway.
Editors: For further information, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor on 020 8461 7670 or David Lambert, Street Works Manager on 020 8313 4933 or e-mail Andrew.Rogers@Bromley.gov.uk.