UK cable giant Virgin Media has again incurred the wrath of London roads regulator Transport for London (TfL) by digging up 5 lanes of the hugely busy A316 arterial road into London ahead of the morning rush-hour.

Virgin Media had permission to dig up one lane at a time and to carry out the works overnight to minimise interference to traffic on the road, which connects directly to London’s M3 motorway.

TfL MD Leon Daniels said: “Once again people’s commute into London has been thrown into utter chaos because a utility company has decided to have a cavalier attitude to road works and once again caused chaos for thousands of London’s commuters. This is unacceptable, unnecessary and hugely frustrating for all and I will be personally writing to the chief executive of Virgin Media to ask them to explain how this easily avoidable disruption was allowed to happen.”

Reportedly the road was left in such an unsafe condition that traffic police had to close the road for safety reasons. The main road was closed for much of February 19th.

A Virgin Media spokesman said: “We take this matter extremely seriously and are addressing our contractor’s failure to comply with the works authorised and agreed with TfL. “We are working with TfL to resolve the issue urgently and regret, and apologise for, the concern caused to motorists in the area.

Earlier in February Richmond upon Thames Council successfully prosecuted Virgin Media after its contractors put drivers’ and pedestrians’ lives in danger in Petersham Road, Richmond last year. This action saw Virgin Media convicted and fined.

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5. Avanti wins spectrum debt obligation case
6. SpaceX breaks records for re-use launchers
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Categories: Blogs, Broadband, Cable, Inside Satellite