A HOUSING developer has been hammered with a court bill of more than £30,000 for flouting the rules during works in a village on the edge of Taunton.

Representatives from Birmingham-based St Modwen Homes Ltd pleaded guilty at Taunton Magistrates' Court to four charges relating to a scheme at Great Western Way, in Norton Fitzwarren

The company was fined £10,000 for failing to correctly reinstates the street following works on or about March 26 as to the specification of materials to be used; the standards of workmanship; and performance standards by not reinstating white lines on the carriageway or the footpath

It was fined a further £4,000 for failing to respond to defect notifications from the street authority (Somerset County Council) between January 10, 2022, and March 3 this year, and in particular the reinstatement of such works, failed to use its best endeavours to cooperate with the street authority and other undertakers in the interests of safety, to minimise the inconvenience of persons using the street (having regard in particular to the needs of people with a disability), and to protect the structure of the street and the integrity of apparatus in it.

There was no separate penalty for a charge of not responding to defect notifications between January 10, 2022, and March 3, 2023.

The largest fine of £14,000 was given for failing to reinstate the street between March 26, 2021, and April 5, 2023, following street works.

St Modwen was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190 and costs of £3,866.50.

The company has been given until October 25 to settle the total court bill of £32,056.50.