Scaffolding firm fined for erecting scaffolding and illegal walkway outside Devizes Cinema

Wiltshire Council has been successful in gaining a conviction against RC Scaffolding of The Yard, Bilston St, Newport NP19 0FJ, which has been fined £3,731 (including costs and compensation) for erecting unlicensed scaffolding without consent and an illegal walkway outside Devizes Cinema between 11 May 2020 and 22 July 2021.

The court heard the scaffolding was erected without any licence from the council, and no proof of any valid public liability insurance.

The company, RC Scaffolding, also erected an illegal walkway in the road that did not comply with the relevant highway safety regulations. The walkway blocked disabled parking bays and access to public litter bins without the consent of the council.

The Court was told that Devizes Cinema had paid RC Scaffolding for the full cost of the licence, but RC Scaffolding failed to apply for any such scaffolding licence or any permissions to suspend the parking bays for the walkway, despite repeated requests from council highways officers to do so.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "This prosecution sends out a clear message that we do not tolerate the risks associated with unlicensed scaffolding being erected on the public highway in Wiltshire, and we will take action.

"This sort of unlicensed work presents a risk to public safety and a nuisance to users of the public highway.

"It is the responsibility of the scaffolding company to ensure they are fully licenced and to provide the necessary public liability insurance, to protect the public."

Under the Highways Act 1980, any scaffolding placed on the public highway must be licensed by the council and the scaffolding company must provide proof of public liability insurance.

The cost of obtaining a scaffolding licence from Wiltshire Council is £69 if more than three days' notice is given, or £81 for less than three days' notice.