Thames Water has been fined £10,000 after Kensington and Chelsea Council took them to court for carrying out unsafe street works in Seymour Walk
Due to the unsafe street works, members of the public were exposed to serious hazards, including excavated grounds, tools, materials, and equipment.
After a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on 20 April, Thames Water was charged and fined under section 65 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice.
Beau Stanford-Francis, executive director of environment and neighbourhoods, Kensington and Chelsea Council, stated: “This prosecution reflects our commitment to hold companies accountable and ensure our streets remain safe for everyone.
“The council expects the highest standards from companies working on our streets to minimise disruption. Where those standards are not met, we will not hesitate to take action.”
Thames Water asked to correct unsafe street works, but they failed to do so
Officers from Kensington and Chelsea Council visited the site in Seymour Walk in July 2025, finding serious unsafe street works.
The site hadn’t been properly secured and no pedestrian provisions were in place to allow safe passage around the works.
Thames Water was asked to correct these defects but failed to do so. Officers returned the next day, finding the footway closed without a safe and accessible alternative route.
Additionally, a ramp had been installed upside down, exposing its rough underside rather than the intended walking surface. This made the ramp unsuitable and potentially unsafe for use.
Additional hazards found at Seymour Walk site
Further unsafe works were found at Seymour Walk, including a works vehicle parked on the footway, which obstructed access to nearby properties and forced pedestrians into the carriageway.
Also, a paving slab was left standing upright, which created a risk of it falling and causing injury.
Minimising disruption caused by street works
Kensington and Chelsea Council carry out regular inspections of street works to ensure compliance with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice.
The council’s network management team works closely with utility companies to minimise disruption caused by potentially unsafe street works. Through collaborative work between multiple utilities and council highway maintenance programmes, the team has saved more than 4,500 days of street works activity across the borough since 2010.
In January 2026, the council successfully prosecuted Thames Water for several other unsafe street works offences at City of London Magistrates Court.
The court imposed total fines of £9,000, along with a victim surcharge of £2,000 and £9,000 in prosecution costs.
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