main content Footway danger – company fined

A company has been prosecuted for causing an obstruction with their lorry and for placing equipment across the footway without safety provisions in Charthouse Road, Orpington. United Insulations Limited of Chelmsford, Essex, pleaded guilty to both offences at Bromley Magistrates’ Court last week and was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £1,200.

“We’re not here to stop contractors working but we had to respond to what could have been potentially, a very dangerous situation for pedestrians. We want to work with contractors to get the job done quickly and safely, without damaging the highway and putting pedestrians’ safety at risk” said Peter Turvey, Enforcement and Technical Support Manager.

During a routine inspection by a Council Enforcement Officer in February, a white Mercedes lorry was seen obstructing the footway outside a housing development site in Charterhouse Road. The lorry, parked with all four wheels on the footway, had a hose pumping insulation material trailing from the back of it onto the site. With the footway blocked and no signs, ramps or other safety measures in place for pedestrians, two women with a pushchair were seen having to walk out into the road to get past the lorry.

Following a guilty plea to both charges in court, United Insulations Limited was fined £500 for each offence with £200 costs.

To report a highway obstruction, visit www.bromley.gov.uk/neatstreet or call the Street Services help desk on 020 8313 4621.


ENDS

Notes to editors:
• The case was heard at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 13th June 2007.

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor on 020 8461 7670 or Peter Turvey, Enforcement and Technical Support Manager on 020 8313 4901 or e-mail andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk