A utility contractor has been fined more than £37,000 for a series of safety breaches and operating without a valid street works permit.

Cadent Gas Ltd pleaded guilty at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court on October 15 to two offences.

• commencing work on the public highway without a valid permit in place
• working unsafely on a public highway

They were sentenced at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on October 26 when the court heard that contractors working on behalf of Cadent Gas had set up a work site with no signage, lighting or guarding.

There were also no provisions for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.

The prosecution was brought by Richmond Council following an investigation.

The court ruled that while Cadent Gas wasn't the company delivering the work they have a responsibility to manage their contractors and sentenced them to pay £37,139 in fines and costs.

Cllr Alexander Ehmann, chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee on Richmond Council, said: "Residents rely on utility companies to fix and repair problems swiftly. We support them to do so. However, they must operate safely.

"When we receive reports that companies are not, we investigate and take swift action.

"It is disappointing that Cadent's contractors were sloppy in putting the safety of pedestrians and cyclists first and they are lucky there were no accidents.

"Hopefully this prosecution sends a strong message that we take street work violations seriously and will continue to prosecute any company that does not follow the rules."

Please like and follow our online newspaper on your favourite social media channel. You can find us @RichmondNubNews on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.