Cheshire West and Chester Council have brought their first prosecution in relation to unsafe road works in Northwich.
British Telecom (BT) have pleaded guilty to three offences and fined a total of £3,300 with £1,200 costs by magistrates for safety breaches in Watling Street.
Magistrates were told by the prosecutor that a BT subcontractor was spotted by a highways officer breaching safety legislation.
A wagon with a grab arm was being used to collect earth from the pavement; however the area of works was not properly fenced off with guard rails, and was a danger to the public.
The court was told that it was a particular concern of the prosecution that these works were being undertaken directly outside a medical centre.
BT pleaded guilty to inadequate guarding of the works, no safe route for pedestrians and no traffic signs to alert and control the traffic.
A spokesman for the council said that the authority would not hesitate to take action over unsafe street works and that any company found breaching the safety legislation in the future was at risk of prosecution.
