A HOLE in the road left a £1,540 hole in the finances of United Utilities Electricity plc after they were prosecuted by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.
Blackburn magistrates heard the company failed to give advance notice of street works and then failed to provide adequate guarding to the hole and a safe route round it.
The Warrington-based company pleaded guilty to the three offences and was fined £1,200 with £340 costs.
Jenny Ashworth, defending, blamed the offences on an administrative error. She said the site had been subject to an opening notice and a closing notice one month before the incident.
When it was necessary to re-open the hole in Higher Witton Road, staff thought the application referred to the previous work and an opening notice was not raised.
As a result the normal procedures for safety and guarding were not triggered.
Miss Ashworth said: "I ask you to accept this was not a blatant disregard by the company of its responsibilities."
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