Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/196

Contact: Owen Jenkins, Highways, Transport & Waste Service Manager Tel: (01865) 323304

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CMDE6).

The report considers objections received during a consultation to introduce a 50mph speed limit on the A417 Reading Road between Wantage & West Hendred in place of the current national speed limit. The proposal arises from a request from County Councillor Stewart Lilly, in response to local concerns over road safety. The accident record for the most recent 5-years (2010 to 2014), although not unduly high in relation to the traffic flows, includes 4 serious and 10 slight injury accidents.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approvethe implementation of a 50mph speed limit on the A417 Reading Road between Wantage & West Hendred in place of the current national speed limit as advertised.

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE6) a report presenting objections received to a consultation on a proposal to introduce a 50 mph speed limit on the A417 Reading Road between Wantage and West Hendred and replacing the current national speed limit.  The proposal had arisen following a request by the local member Councillor Stewart Lilly in response to local concerns over road safety.

Mr Tole confirmed the details of the two objections one from the Wantage town council and a second from a driver, both on the basis of need. Thames Valley police had commented that the restriction would bring some consistency to speeds along this road.

The Cabinet Member advised that having driven along this stretch of road recently he had found it easy to comply to the proposed limit with very few accesses onto the road from neighbouring parishes.  Therefore, having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him and the further considerations set out above he confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve implementation of a 50 mph speed limit on the A417 Reading Road between Wantage and West Hendred in place of the current national speed limit as advertised.

Signed……………………………...

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date…………………………………