BT fined for unsafe street works in Kirkby Stephen

British Telecommunications Ltd's been ordered to pay a fine of £5000, £2500 costs and a victim surcharge of £2000 after admitting carrying out unsafe street works in Cumbria.

It relates to an incident at South Road (A685) in Kirkby Stephen on 9th October 2025, when reels of tabl were left trailing down a resident street.

An inspection by a Compliance Officer from Westmorland & Furness Council highlighted a lack of signage, lighting, protection and traffic managerment - putting the firm in breach of Section 65 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Councillor Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for HIghways and ICT said: "Managing and co-ordinating the thousands of requests from utility companies to carry out work on the highway is a huge job which our teams handle admirably and we take very seriously our responsibility to ensure that companies carrying out street works in Westmorland and Furness do so in a safe and legal manner."

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• street works
• unsafe