Maidenhead & Windsor

Pedestrians and walkers using the popular Thames Path National Trail could soon benefit from a safe road crossing at Ray Mead Road in Maidenhead.

Members of the Windsor and Maidenhead Rights of Way and Highway Licensing Panel voted to investigate the possibility of installing a zebra crossing and/or anti-skid strips on Ray Mead Road to improve the route of the Thames Path to the north of Bridge Gardens.

The proposals follow the Windsor and Maidenhead council's action last year to infill a set of disused landing steps opposite Bray Boats and the Thames Hotel to provide a new section of river frontage to the popular trail.

A zebra crossing installed at the entrance to Bridge Gardens would provide a safe crossing for walkers heading north towards Boulters Lock. It would mean that walkers would cross Ray Mead Road via the new pedestrian crossing, walk about 40 metres along the pavement on the west side of Ray Mead Road before crossing back via the new anti-skid surface on the road to re-join the path's river frontage at Chandlers Quay.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, transport and environment, said: "The Thames Path is a very popular amenity in the Royal Borough, providing a well-used walking route for a great many people.

"Since doing the work last year to infill the disused landing steps to extend the river frontage of the Thames Path, we have worked hard to explore further ways of improving the route to the area north of Bridge Gardens.

"We have obviously taken into consideration both pedestrian and road safety implications, and have reached the conclusion that pedestrian crossing facilities along Ray Mead Road would provide the most appropriate solution.

"We will now undertake stringent investigations – including a statutory road safety audit – to assess the detail of the crossing facilities we should provide."

Cllr Ashgar Majeed, chairman of the Windsor and Maidenhead Rights of Way and Highway Licensing Panel, said: "I would like to thank Margaret Bowdery of the Ramblers Association, Bob Dulson, chairman of the Maidenhead Civic Society and also of ProM (the Partnership for the Rejuvenation of Maidenhead); residents Ms Fiona Hewer and David Ricardo and Riverside ward councillors for their input and Maidenhead MP Theresa May for her views.

"We would like to assure them that we would love for the Thames Path Trail to be completed and we are working strenuously to find a solution to the completion of the path."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead