Vodafone handed ninth fine in two years for mismanaging streetworks

Transport for London (TfL) has prosecuted Vodafone for two counts of failing to provide notices at the start and end of its streetworks.

It’s the ninth time in two years the telecommunications company has been reprimanded by TfL.

Vodafone was ordered to pay more than £6,000 in fines for failing to serve the required streetworks notices in Archway Road on 22 May last year. TfL subsequently issued the company Fixed Penalty Notices, which Vodafone failed to pay.

“These offences prevent us from coordinating streetworks effectively and we will continue to push for the toughest penalties possible against companies caught acting unlawfully, said Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s chief operating officer for Surface Transport.

Submitting streetworks notices is essential so TfL can avoid multiple roadworks taking place at the same time in close proximity. This ensures that the same road is not dug up repeatedly and encourages utilities to collaborate, ultimately reducing congestion and disruption to road users.

Ahead of the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Vodafone pleaded guilty to the two offences and the company was fined a total of £3,340 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,750. It is the third time Vodafone has been prosecuted for this particular offence since 2010.

In passing sentence the lead Judge commented: "I have taken into account TfL’s submissions and reasons for prosecuting these offences and also mitigation provided by Vodafone. I also considered that Vodafone was only recently prosecuted by TfL for various other offences and it is for that reason that we feel compelled to impose a fine, which we feel should send a strong message to Vodafone that lessons should be learnt and to take their responsibilities more seriously.” 

Since January 2015, TfL has prosecuted Vodafone on seven previous occasions for various offences including failure to serve statutory streetworks notices and for working without a permit.

TfL has also issued 84 Fixed Penalty Notices to the telecommunications giant since 2011, 25 of those within the last year.