John Shackley

Dear Sirs, I refer to your letter regarding the deaths of Mr Jason Imi and Mr John Shackley following the unfortunate road crash on A329 London Road, Sunninghill on 2nd August 2018. I have been asked to respond to you on behalf of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, who are the Highway Authority responsible for this section of road. I apologise for the delay in responding to you. As with all fatal road crashes on roads across the Borough, we arrange to meet the Police as soon as possible after any crash. This allows us to review the circumstances around the crash, identify possible contributory highway issues and if necessary put in place any remedial measures as soon as possible. In this case, a meeting was held on site with the Police on 7th August 2018. No traƯic management issues were identified during this site visit that may have contributed to this collision. Our information is that there have been no reported injury crashes on London Road within 200m of the Hotel entrance over the five year period 1st May 2013 to 30th April 2018 and that there have been no reported pedestrian casualties in the area since 1st January 1990. I do however note that you have raised concerns about a number of issues where you consider that there is a danger that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. With regards to these points that you raise:
1. Whilst it is acknowledged that there is no footway on the north side of London Road in the immediate vicinity of the Royal Berkshire Hotel, the likely number of users of a possible new footway is very low as there are only a small number of properties on the north side of the road and very few of the Hotel guests walk along this section of road. The lack of a footway is not unusual in a rural setting such as this, although there is a continuous footway along the south side of the road. We will nevertheless monitor and review pedestrian activity in the area.
2. There is existing street lighting on the road corresponding with the edge of the small settlement to the west of the hotel, which commences at a point approximately 100 metres west of the Royal Berkshire Hotel. Whilst it is not usual practice to install street lighting for an individual access such as this, subject to budget prioritisation, the Council will look to introduce additional street lighting on the section of London Road up to the Hotel entrance.
3. Colleagues have reviewed the tree canopy surrounding the road in this rural area but have not identified any specific road safety issues associated with tree cover.

4. Although there is a slight dip in the road in the vicinity of the Hotel entrance, there is advance signing to advise of the Hotel entrance as well as signing immediately opposite the Hotel entrance. Further signing or traƯic measures are not considered necessary to alert approaching drivers to the presence of the Hotel entrance. I trust that this response addresses the concerns that you have raised.