Enfield Council prosecuted the private company for the “unnecessary disruption” caused when it dug up two roads in December last year

The Thames Water roadworks in Conway Road

Thames Water has been ordered to pay more than £30,000 in fines and costs for offences related to non-compliance of roadworks permits and failing to co-operate with Enfield Council.

After the case was brought by the council, Thames Water pleaded guilty in court to street works violations including unauthorised road closures and providing false notifications of urgent street works, contravening both the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2015.

The offences occurred on 7th and 12th December 2023 at Conway Road and Hazelwood Lane in Palmers Green, where Thames Water failed to comply with permit requirements, causing significant disruption to residents and road users.

Thames Water had falsely claimed that the works were of an immediate nature due to visible leaks, but an Enfield Council street works inspector could find no evidence of this.

The company then proceeded without the necessary road closure permits, further aggravating the inconvenience to the public.

At Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Thursday 19th, Thames Water was fined £10,000 for the Conway Road charge, and £16,000 for the Hazelwood Lane charge, with costs of £2,709 and a £2,000 victim surcharge also imposed on the private company, bringing the total to £30,709.

It was the court’s view that the unauthorised road closures at Hazelwood Lane and Conway Road could have caused significant delays to emergency response times and in both situations the closures would not have been necessary had the works been planned with the co-operation of the council’s street works team.

Rick Jewell, the council’s cabinet member for transport and waste, welcomed the prosecution and said: “This successful prosecution sends a clear message that Enfield Council will not tolerate companies that disregard the rules and cause unnecessary disruption to our community.

“We are committed to ensuring that public safety and convenience are prioritised in all street works. Thames Water’s actions not only contravened regulations but also created considerable inconvenience. I am proud of the council’s efforts in holding them accountable, and I hope this serves as a deterrent to any other companies considering similar violations.”

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