Openreach taken to court by council over roadworks
Wiltshire Council claims permits weren't requested before work was carried out
Wiltshire Council is to take telecommunications giant Openreach to court over roadworks carried out without a permit.
The council is angry that the broadband infrastructure firm did not seek permits for work it carried out in Weymouth Street, Warminster in September and October 2024.
It says the road was closed in both directions while work was carried out.
The authority also claims the firm carried out work on the A350 at Semley, near Shaftsbury, and on the A30 at Barford St Martin, near Wilton, without a permit.
The allegations are to be heard by Swindon magistrates on July 1. Openreach denies a total of seven charges.
Cllr Martin Smith, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, confirmed: “Our Network Management Team has initiated prosecution proceedings against Openreach in relation to three separate incidents where roads were closed without securing the required permission from the highway authority.
“As this is an active legal case, we are unable to comment further at this time.”