PHONE giant BT has been ordered to pay more than £36,000 in fines and costs for offences committed in Taunton.

A total of six of the counts dealt with at Taunton Magistrates' Courts yesterday (Tuesday) related to incidents in Cheddon Road in July last year.

BT executed street works without the approval of the street authority "thereby failing to use its best endeavours to co-operate with the street authority" on two dates, attracting fines totalling £8,000, along with costs of £2,267.07 and a victim surcharge of £170.

The works were also deemed to be in contravention of a direction on safety given by the traffic authority, landing the company with fines totalling £12,000.

BT, who address was given in court as Newgate Street, London, was also fined £3,200 for failing to give appropriate advance notice of the works.

Those cases, originally brought by Somerset County Council, had been re-opened and sentences imposed in January were set aside.

In a fresh case also considered by the magistrates, BT pleaded guilty to executing street works in contravention of provisions in the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice at Venture Way, Taunton, on October 24 last year.

The company was fined £9,000 for that offence, along with costs of £1,430.83 and a victim surcharge of £170.

The cases mean BT will have to pay a total of £36,237.90.

The court heard of three further charges BT faces relating to other alleged offences committed in Bittescombe Lane, Upton, near Dulverton on February 6 this year.

It is accused of carrying out street works without approval; executing street works in contravention of a direction on safety given by the traffic authority; and carrying out street works without giving appropriate notice.

The company was ordered to be represented at a plea hearing into the case initiative by the county council at Taunton Magistrates' Courts on May 15.