A COMPANY whose crane blocked a Bexley road to traffic for more than an hour, has been fined for causing an obstruction.

The crane, owned by Southern Contract Lifting Ltd from West Sussex, cause traffic chaos as it parked across the roadway in The Grove , Sidcup on August 20 last year.

Last week Bexley magistrates heard the company had not asked for or paid for a traffic management order from Bexley council, which brough the prosecution.

As a result, no advance warning was given to motorists the road would be blocked.

The company pleaded guilty to the obstruction by post but, in mitigation, said the management had wrongly assumed the council had been notified.

It said there had been no intention to cause the situation with prior notice to the council.

Magistrates fined the company £750 with £400 costs and a £15 victims’ surcharge.