Scaffolder fined

Richard Bonner from RB&S Scaffolding Street Scaffolding Eastbourne, has been fined £1,000 by Brighton Magistrates for having scaffolding on the public highway without a licence.

Mr Bonner, of 11 Cheshire Court, Leslie Street, Eastbourne, who did not attend court, was found guilty of erecting scaffolding in Castle Street, Brighton without getting permission from Brighton & Hove City Council. The company was also ordered to pay £450 costs and £100 victim surcharge.

Under the Highways Act 1980, any scaffolding placed on the public highway has to be licensed by the council. As part of the licence application the council’s highways team carries out checks to make sure scaffolding is not causing a danger to members of the public.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the city’s environment committee, said: “The council checks out unlicensed scaffolding as it could pose a danger to the public. Most firms make sure they are meeting their legal requirements by applying for a licence and we will take action on unlicensed, and therefore illegal, scaffolding.”