A SITE owner has been fined £3,000 for failing to ensure materials could not fall from a Blackheath building onto the pavement.

Mark Hewitt, from Halesowen, was found guilty by Sandwell magistrates of failing to properly plan or manage construction work at the location in Halesowen Street.

Hewitt, of Manor Lane, who was employing people to work there, was also ordered to pay more than £1,000 in costs.

The Health and Safety Executive, which brought the prosecution, inspected a site after a member of the public raised concerns over work taking place next to a public pavement.

Inspector Chris Gregory said there was a risk of materials falling from the first floor level onto the pavement and the street, and there were no fall prevention measures in place to protect workers on the site.

He said: “As the client for the work, Mr Hewitt should have ensured the appropriate measures were in place in order to plan, manage and monitor the project.

“He was informed of his duties by his advisers, but failed to act. “Mr Hewitt had a duty to ensure that the safety of those working on site and those members of the public, passing by, were not put at risk, he failed on both counts”