Agenda item

(a)  Approved the implementation of the road safety measures outlined in this report as part of the Safer Roads Fund scheme on the A4.

(b)  Delegated authority to the Executive Director for Regeneration, Housing and Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for transport, housing, highways, the environment and environmental services, to approve the revised road safety Summary of Countermeasures identified in Appendix 2;

(c)  Approved the procurement for services and construction associated with the Summary of Countermeasures in Appendix 2;

(d)  Approved the allocation of grant funds for the installation of speed enforcement cameras on the A4 to Thames Valley Police.

The Lead Member for Environment, Environmental Services, Highways, Housing & Transport introduced a report that sought approval to introduce road safety improvements on the A4 from the Huntercombe crossroads to the intersection of the M4 Junction 5 roundabout.  The works were fully funded from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Safer Roads Fund grant.

The purpose of the funding for the scheme was to reduce the number of fatal and serious injuries for all road users on the A4.  The DfT funding had been made available to upgrade 50 of England’s most dangerous local A-road section following an analysis by the Road Safety Foundation in 2016.  Funding of £1.7m had been made available for the A4 in Slough given its high risk profile.  The road safety measures to be introduced included a 30 mph speed limit along appropriate sections of the A4, as had been approved by Cabinet in December 2022; the introduction of average speed cameras; red-light camera systems; road surface treatments; improved pedestrian and cycle crossings; removing roadside hazards; and decluttering.  The proposals were aligned to the Council’s Local Transport Plan 3 and Corporate Plan objectives.

Lead Members considered the safety data and the consultation responses detailed in the report.  The Cabinet sought assurance that the data that would be used in the review that would be carried out after the scheme was completed would include a comparison against the 2016 baseline as well as the data collected in 2021 which would have been effected by the Covid related impact on travel patterns.  This was agreed.  The links to the A4 Cycle Way scheme were considered and Members agreed that it was appropriate to deliver in a cost effective way and reduce any disruption during construction.  In response to concerns raised by the Cabinet about potential disruption the Executive Director responsible for transport gave assurance that the majority of works were off carriageway and would be phased and coordinated to minimise disruption. 

The Cabinet agreed that the key priority was for the A4 to be as safe as possible and that scheme would help to achieve this.  The importance of minimising disruption for road users during construction was emphasised.  The recommendations were then agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the implementation of the road safety measures outlined in the report as part of the Safer Roads Fund scheme on the A4 be approved;

(b)  That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director for Regeneration, Housing and Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for transport, housing, highways, the environment and environmental services, to approve the revised road safety Summary of Countermeasures identified in Appendix 2 to the report;

(c)  That the procurement for services and construction associated with the Summary of Countermeasures in Appendix 2 to the report be approved; and

(d)  That the allocation of grant funds for the installation of speed enforcement cameras on the A4 to Thames Valley Police be approved.