A4 speed limit set to drop to 50mph through Padworth

West Berkshire Council has denied it wants to decrease the limit on the entire road, however the carriageway through Padworth is likely to be lowered in the wake of two deaths in two years at the busy carriageway.
The council’s highways portfolio holder David Betts (Con, Purley-on-Thames) is expected to rubber stamp changes on Thursday.
A task group set up by the council approved a similar change last year, reducing the speed limit on the A4 between a point to the west of the A340 Aldermaston roundabout and east of its junction to Beenham to 50mph
The group then turned its focus to the stretch of road which following a speed limit review the three year injury accident record, to the end of July 2010, showed that there had been 28 accidents on the A4 between the two A340 roundabouts.
In the latest three year period, to the end of December 2011 there have been 10 recorded injury accidents within the length of the proposed speed limit, including one fatal incident, three serious and 11 slight injuries being received.
In October a 41-year-old Richard Agar died when he was hit by a white Volkswagen Transporter van travelling on the A4 Bath Road at Padworth.
He was crossing the road at the time.
The tragedy followed another fatal accident on the same stretch of road in November 2010.
During that incident, Walter Bunyard, aged 82, from The Crescent, Padworth, was killed after his wife walked into the path of an oncoming car whilst pushing his wheelchair.
The ward member for Padworth, councillor Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston) backed proposals for the single carriageway but said a speed limit should not be installed on the length which is dual carriageway.
Against the changes completely is shadow highways member Keith Woodhams (Lib Dem, Thatcham West), who said he felt chopping and changing the speed limit would confuse drivers, and that many would simply ignore the alteration anyway.
Mr Woodhams said he was surprised that no comment from the police had been included in the council report.
“The police have not commented on this and as they are the ones who will have to monitor the road and the speed limit. I would expect them to have some input,” he said.
One response to the consultation questioned the council’s motives and said it could be a “wedge” to make the whole of the A4 a 50pm, but the council has denied this suggestion.