A COMPANY and its former director have together been fined more than £10,000 for making unauthorised dropped kerbs for vehicle access.

Brighton and Hove City Council has prosecuted CCE Sussex Ltd and former director Jason Bennett for work in Reading Road, Brighton, contrary to the Highways Act 1980. It was the authority’s first successful prosecution of this kind.

Council officials discovered Bennett and the company failed to meet appropriate standards and had not been granted permission to make the pavement adaptations.

The case was heard at Brighton Magistrates Court where they faced five charges.

Bennett pleaded guilty in his absence as did CCE Sussex Ltd, of Horsted Keynes.

They had to pay £1,000 each for each of the five offences, together with £600 costs and £100 surcharge.

Another £4,301.52 of compensation must be paid to the council to cover the costs of correctly constructing the kerbs.

They have 14 days to pay a total of £10,001.52 fines, costs and compensation.

Anyone can apply for a licence to build a vehicle crossover – dropped kerb – for access to their property but must meet the relevant criteria and safety standards.