THE ‘dangerous’ A4 road is set to see more changes as the council is about to use its £1.7m grant – including speed reductions.

A majority of the Bath Road from Huntercombe Lane North in the west of Slough to all the way to Sutton Lane in the east could be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.

This is one of the safety measures Slough Borough Council is considering after it received £1.7m from the government to make the A4 safer after it was identified in 2016 as being in the UK’s top 50 most dangerous roads.

According to a report presented to senior councillors at a cabinet meeting, there were four fatal collisions on the A4 and 42 serious crashes between 2016 and 2022.

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Speaking at the meeting on Monday, December 19, council leader James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green) said it is “responsible” of the local authority to make this change as data shows vehicles are less likely to kill people in a crash when travelling at 30mph.

The key road that cuts through Slough has seen some major changes, such as a controversial bus lane implemented, and will soon see a £10.4m cycle superhighway added once designs are ironed out.

Cllr Mohammed Nazir (Lab: Baylis & Stoke), lead member for transport, explained the grant will also pay for new speed and red-light cameras, road surface works, improved pedestrian and cycle crossings, and the removal and decluttering of hazards.

Meanwhile, the 60mph between Sutton Lane in Colnbrook and Lakeside Road could be 40mph. The 50mph to the western end of the bridge over the M25 will remain as is.

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The council was awarded the £1.7m, which is part of the Safer Roads Fund, in March 2021, but the plans were delayed due to the local authority effectively declaring bankruptcy in July after it emerged it had a £760m borrowing debt.

Following further public consultation, the scheme could be fully implemented in 2024.

Cllr Rob Anderson (Lab: Britwell & Northborough), lead member for financial oversight, said the proposed speed reductions along the A4 were “long overdue”.

He added: “If you have driven to London recently, virtually every single road in London is now 20mph. Not just residential streets, even major arteries are down to 20mph and heavily camera enforced because is it such an urbanised area and I think that us bringing [the A4] to 30mph is an eminently sensible step and brings us more in line with other areas.”