A POWER company which caused traffic misery by closing off several lanes at a busy junction has been fined for installing traffic lights without a valid permit.

UK Power Networks shut off one lane in each direction at the crossroads connecting Wimpole Road, Brook Street, Magdalen Street and Barrack Street last Friday so engineers could repair a high voltage fault.

But the Gazette can reveal the firm has been fined by Essex County Council because it did not apply to the local authority for a permit which covered the installation of traffic lights.

Outage – more than 1,000 people lost electricity last Thursday, meaning UK Power Networks had to interveneOutage – more than 1,000 people lost electricity last Thursday, meaning UK Power Networks had to intervene (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

The lane closures caused huge tailbacks, especially on Brook Street, from Friday to Monday by which time Essex Highways made sure the traffic lights were removed.

The repairs, which have been carried out after more than 1,000 people experienced power cuts last Thursday, were scheduled to finish on Wednesday this week.

A spokesman for UK Power Networks blamed “an admin error” for the issue and said the original permit – which Essex Highways had accepted – had not been updated to allow them to put traffic lights at the junction.

He said: “Our contractors had obtained a permit for the Brook Street and Barrack Street roadworks, and as the job progressed temporary traffic lights and a walkway in the carriageway for pedestrian safety later became necessary.

“Unfortunately due to our admin error, the permit was not updated to include these.

“The highways authority visited site and the traffic lights were removed on Monday.

“This essential work to repair an underground cable supplying power to the area, is due to finish on Wednesday and we would like to thank people for their patience.”

An Essex County Council spokesman confirmed UK Power Networks has been fined for breach of conditions.

Queues – traffic builds at the traffic lights on FridayQueues – traffic builds at the traffic lights on Friday (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

He said: “UK Power Networks submitted an emergency permit notification for works on Brook Street and Barrack Street, however this did not cover temporary traffic lights.

“UK Power Networks did not update its permit to include temporary traffic lights, so our inspector visited the site on Monday, August 5, to oversee removal of the traffic lights.

“UK Power Networks has been issued with fixed penalty notices for breach of conditions as a result.”