A DRIVEWAY company has fallen foul of new fines designed to crack down on unlicensed skips and obstucting highways.
Driveways Essex, of Great Stambridge, was charged with obstructing the highway with building materials and having a skip on Acacia Drive, Thorpe Bay, without a permit in September.
Appearing at Southend Magistrates’ Court, a representative of the company pleaded guilty to all counts.
The company was fined £500, ordered to pay the council costs of £395 and a £50 victim surcharge.
The firm was previously prosecuted by the council for similar offences in February 2012. It was fined £300 with £210 costs.
In June, the council introduced new fines for driving on grass verges and leaving unlicensed skips and scaffolding on the pavement, in order to tackle the problem.
Developers who occupy part of the highway while working have to buy a £200 permit for the first month and £50 for each week thereafter.
They face fines of £300 for unlicensed skips on the highway and £1,500 for unlicensed scaffolding, which can rise to £1,000 and £5,000, respectively, if the matter goes to court.
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