How will council tackle Ray Mill Road West?
Councillor Singh is absolutely right in the statement he made to the Maidenhead Advertiser regarding the traffic problems experienced by residents and pedestrians who use Ray Mill Road West (May 26, 2022).
The response made by the anonymous spokesperson from the council is unsatisfactory. The traffic-calming measures described are certainly not ‘very effective’ and a high volume of traffic uses the road.
As a resident of Ray Mill Road West I frequently witness traffic exceeding the 20mph speed limit.
I have never seen any police speed cameras or detector vans in operation in the road or any traffic policing of any description.
The road humps are almost flat and do not act as a deterrent to speeding motorists.
Their only effect is to increase the level of noise pollution as lorries carrying heavy loads use the road and their cargo bangs up and down as they pass over the humps.
The footpaths are already narrow but cars regularly park with two wheels on them so that pedestrians have to walk in the road to get past, particularly when they are pushing buggies.
To say that these footpaths improve pedestrian safety is highly misleading.
Neither can on-street parking be regarded as a traffic-calming measure.
In addition to Councillor Singh’s recommendations I would like to add these other suggestions: install a two-way speed camera on the road; traffic wardens should regularly monitor the parking; substantially raise or remove the road humps.
It would be interesting to see the data obtained by the safety review and to know when this review was carried out and by whom.
Of particular value would be data indicating the volume of traffic, the noise levels, the air quality and the number of lorries using the road.
Could we also see the response from Thames Valley Police regarding the frequency with which the traffic police monitor Ray Mill Road West?
The traffic flow on these roads will only get worse owing to the increase in building of properties in Maidenhead. How will the council tackle this?
DENISE MOULTON
Maidenhead