West Berkshire Council can't grant additional speeding restrictions in West Ilsley

Additional speeding restrictions won’t be granted on a stretch of road that has seen four serious collisions in the past 12 years, West Berkshire Council has announced.

The eastern entrance into West Ilsley, a road that goes from a 60mph speed limit to a 30mph one at the bottom of a 12 per cent incline hill, was most recently the site of an accident on May 14 when a van collided with the side of a house, causing significant structural damage.

The council has investigated requests from concerned residents to extend the existing 30mph speed limit further up the hill, but it is unable to do so.

A West Berkshire Council spokesperson said: “The council has investigated requests to extend the existing 30mph speed limit on the northbound approach to West Ilsley.

“However, in accordance with current Department for Transport guidance relating to The Setting of Local Speed Limits and also direct input from Thames Valley Police, the required Department for Transport criteria cannot be met and any such changes are not possible.”

A resident whose property was damaged in the most recent accident said: “I appreciate that West Berkshire Council have guidelines; however, surely common sense needs to come into play at some point?

“More and more traffic comes through the village to avoid the A34, where crashes now happen on a near weekly basis.

“We have walkers, cyclists, race horses, horse lorries and farming machinery all crossing at the bottom of the hill.

“Traffic calming measures, as Bradfield village has in place, would seem the most sensible option. This would ensure traffic slowed considerably before entering the village, and prevented speeding as it left.

“I look forward to WBC reconsidering the possible options as I am greatly concerned for the future of my property.”

For three weeks, West Ilsley Parish Council installed a speed indicator device close to the site of the recent crash and found that 1,734 motorists were travelling above 35mph within the 30mph zone.

The council also found that 340 drivers continued in excess of 35mph despite being warned about their speed by the device, and 67 motorists were travelling above 40mph in that time period.

West Ilsley residents also inquired into whether a permanent speed deterrent device could be installed in the eastern part of the village, but this request was denied by the council.

The WBC spokesperson also said: “In addition, a subsequent request to install a vehicle activated sign on the northbound approach to West Ilsley has also been investigated.

“However, due to lack of available highway verge and insufficient forward visibility (both necessary for such a sign to operate both safely and correctly) this is also not possible.

“For these reasons it has not been possible to introduce any additional traffic management related highway features at this location.”

West Ilsley parish councillor Liz Dray said: “We are frustrated that nothing can be done to protect vulnerable residents as national rules and guidelines have to be used with no regard to the unique danger of individual locations.

“We particularly suffer with heavy traffic when there is a problem with the A34.

“We will continue to gather speeding data and will be looking to join the community speed watch scheme.

“We will also be asking for further consideration of a traffic calming measure at the eastern end of the village and additional signage where this is legally permitted.”