A Weybridge company has had to pay out more than £17,000 after a length of scaffolding collapsed on a busy London street in the middle of the day.

Alliance Building and Contracting ltd, which was based in Monument Hill, was the main contractor for a demolition and build project at a site in Lillie Road, Fulham, when the incident happened on October 3, 2011.

A 16-metre length of scaffolding collapsed and fell from the first floor, blocking one lane of traffic and covering the pavement, but missed hitting pedestrians and traffic.

The company, which is now in voluntary liquidation, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found safety failings.

HSE found that Alliance Building and Contracting Ltd failed to properly manage the demolition phase of the work, while the scaffolding was left free-standing after the demolition work had finished.

The site had been left unattended for long periods of time and regular safety inspections of the scaffold had not taken place.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court found the company guilty of a breach of the work at height regulations 2005 and a fine of £10,000 with costs of £7,190 was imposed.

Speaking after the hearing, Inspector Charles Linfoot said: “Scaffold collapses are infrequent in the construction industry, but when they occur, they often cause serious injury, fatalities and major damage.

“Lillie Road is a busy one and it is a matter of chance that the collapse, brought about by the safety failures of Alliance Building & Contracting, did not have more serious consequences.

“The case shows how important it is to actively manage all the risks on a construction site and, in particular, to make sure inspections of scaffolding are carried out regularly.”