Safe Speed Forums

Council slashes speed limit on rural section of A4 Bath Road

Traffic bosses have been given the green light to slashing the speed limit along a key route into Maidenhead.

Motorists using the A4 Bath Road between Maidenhead Thicket and Knowl Hill will have to put the brakes on and stick to a new 40mph limit from April 23.

The news has been welcomed by campaigners but could cause frustration for large numbers of commuters accustomed to travelling at 50mph.

The scheme was thrown into jeopardy last month when police said they would not back it, but officers warmed to it after seeing fresh plans.

The Littlewick Green Society began a campaign in February 2005 when much-loved villager Christopher Fuller died after an accident with a motorcycle as he tried to cross the A4.

Lynn Penfold, chairman of the society, said: "We're absolutely thrilled. We've done our own checks, and the average speed for the road is 47mph. People who live on the Bath Road say they see people on motorcycles and in cars going too fast all the time."

Royal Borough bosses gave the go-ahead for a consultation two months ago after receiving a residents' petition last year. They were backed by ward and parish councillors, but Thames Valley Police said it did not think a 40mph speed limit was appropriate for such a wide road.

Police argued that because the average speed was 47mph it would be wrong to slash the limit.

But eleventh hour discussions between councillors and police last month salvaged the scheme.

Town Hall chiefs agreed markings would be introduced to narrow the road and help drivers turning onto the A4 from side roads. Councillor John Iles (Lib Dem, Hurley and Walthams) was active in the campaign to introduce new limits. He said "I feel this is the right thing to do".

Years of campaigning gets the gate

Action by Littlewick Green homeowners has led to a speed-calming gate being erected in the village.

The wooden fence was put up after years of lobbying by the Littlewick Green Society on Wednesday last week.

The idea was first suggested in spring 2006 when the society circulated a petition calling for road safety measures to be introduced.

After subsequent meetings with the parish council and consultations with homeowners, a gate was installed at the top end of Jubilee Road.

Lynn Penfold, chairman of the Littlewick Green Society, said: "The thing about Jubilee Road is that it is dead straight. There is nothing to give you a feeling that you are entering a village, and we came to the conclusion in the end that gates were a good idea."

Mrs Penfold, 62, said that past attempts to get a 20mph speed limit were not succesful. At one point villages even threatened to erect impromptu signs in the area, but were told this could result in legal action.

"The idea is to give the appearance of the road narrowing," said Mrs Penfold.

"It's quite interesting watching people. They have been acting differently since the gate was erected and have been slowing down. Whether it is to have a gander at the new gate or because it does act as a visual calming measure only time will tell."

The gate will soon include a sign warning drivers to slow down as they approach the village.

Doug Stewart, clerk for White Waltham Parish Council, said: "The whole exercise has been about reducing speed through Littlewick Green, and we thought that having gates would help this. We have said that we will give it 18 months to a year and then review the situation and check whether the scheme has been effective."

Police argued that because the average speed was 47mph it would be wrong to slash the limit.

The Littlewick Green Society began a campaign in February 2005 when much-loved villager Christopher Fuller died after an accident with a motorcycle as he tried to cross the A4.

Councillor John Iles (Lib Dem, Hurley and Walthams) was active in the campaign to introduce new limits. He said "I feel this is the right thing to do".

Is not the original story at the top of this post an indicator that current roads policy is also de-skilling pedestrians?