“Slapdash” Virgin Media hit with Court fine
May 8, 2014
By Chris Forrester
Virgin Media was fined for five offences which concerned unsafe working practices while working in Croydon, south London last October. Virgin Media pleaded guilty to the charges, which included breaches of two separate permit conditions and of failing to serve the required statutory notices.
Leon Daniels, managing director of surface transport at Transport for London (TfL), which initiated the action, said the cable company’s actions were “slapdash behaviour” that was “thoroughly intolerable”. “We are completely focused on cutting delays and will be continuing to prosecute persistent offenders who show wanton disregard for Londoners, as we have Virgin Media,” he stated.
During the sentencing, district judge Paul Goldspring cited the potential serious consequences of Virgin Media carrying out works without proper guard rails near a primary school.
Virgin was fined £5000 (€5,888), plus the maximum possible victim surcharge of £420 as well as covering TfL’s full legal costs.
A Virgin Media spokesperson, said: “Our contractors did not comply with the high standards we set for everyone who works on behalf of Virgin Media and we apologise for the disruption caused.”