A not-for-profit broadband firm has pledged it will work hard to make sure it doesn’t put people at risk while carrying out work.
Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) was fined £1,400 by magistrates when roadworks were not set up safely in an Eden Valley village.
The prosecution was brought by Cumbria County Council on behalf of its highways department as a result of failings by B4RN at Fetherston Hill in Kirkoswald on May 26.
The site lacked warning signs, two-way traffic lights and a pedestrian walkway.
The firm issued the following statement following the prosecution.
It said: “B4RN was notified of two high risk inspection failures by Cumbria County Council on May 26 2022 and June 13 2022.
“As soon as B4RN senior management were made aware of the breaches by Cumbria County Council,a full internal investigation was launched. B4RN worked closely with Cumbria County Council in reviewing the findings of this investigation before collaboratively agreeing and implementing corrective actions.
“We continue to work with Cumbria County Council to ensure all works are carried out safely and legally within the New Roads and Street Works Act.
“We acknowledge the company was at fault in these instances and we have taken urgent and decisive action to greatly reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring in future.”
Michael Lee, B4RN’s chief executive added: “The results of this investigation were reviewed collaboratively with Cumbria County Council, and corrective actions were agreed and quickly implemented.
“We acknowledge that we are at fault, and we continue to work hard to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
