Last Thursday (9 June 2022) Stoke-on-Trent City Council responded to utility company, VX Fibre and their illegal excavation works on Leek Road.
On closer investigation, VX Fibre had not obtained a permit to carry out such works and work was forced to stop immediately. All traffic management and the lane closure were to be removed within a two-hour window before peak traffic hours started, this was complied with. The footway was fully reinstated by forcing VX Fibre to pull resources from other areas of the City to complete this work. This was implemented due to the open excavations they had already dug which required reinstatement for safety reasons.
VX Fibre received Enforcement action against them for a Regulation 19 Offence in the form of an FPN.
Councillor Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage has said: “We take rogue utility works seriously, and as acting permitting authority we have processes and procedures in place for a reason.
Both the safety of road users and residents, plus the employees were put in potential danger. Not having the correct permits or digging up part of road they were not cleared to do, could’ve had led to catastrophic events.
I am incredibly proud to have a team who are able to act on instinct and who ensured that site was shutdown safely.”
VX Fibre have been fined thousands of pounds this week alone due to overrun charges and not holding valid permits.
We thank residents and road users for their patience.
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