Serious concerns over safety on one of the busiest roads in Reading have been raised months after a fatal crash.
Stephen Allen, 64, was walking in Bath Road when he was struck by a vehicle near the Lidl supermarket, at around 6.40am on November 26, 2025.
Chris Giles, who lives nearby, is pushing for the road to be made safer and raised concerns that overhanging trees are causing a visual obstruction.
The issue is complicated by the fact that Bath Road crosses the boundary between Reading Borough and West Berkshire Council.
Mr Giles raised the issue at a full meeting of Reading Borough Council on Tuesday, June 30.
He said: “I was born in Reading and I’m here to raise concerns about road safety on the Bath Road following the fatal collision that occurred in November 2025 between Burghfield Road and the western boundary of Reading council.
“Will the council urgently review safety measures on this stretch of the Bath Road, including consideration of reduced and enforced speed limits, improved on and off‑road signage, and enhanced street lighting?
“In addition, will the council commit to arranging a multi‑agency site meeting with relevant stakeholders to consider pedestrian and cyclist safety, including the use of footpaths, speed management, and signage, particularly in light of the increasing use of cycles, e‑bikes and scooters?”
The question was answered by John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), the lead councillor for transport, who also represents the area.
He said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the individual who tragically lost their life, and we recognise the impact of this incident on the wider community.
“As a council, we take road safety extremely seriously.
“Officers have been supporting the police with their ongoing investigation into this incident, and while that investigation is not yet concluded, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific circumstances.
“We work closely with Thames Valley Police to monitor collision and casualty data across the Borough, and to understand any patterns or underlying causes.
“This evidence helps inform where targeted and effective interventions can be introduced.
“While current data does not identify this particular location as a high-risk site in terms of recorded casualties, we do recognise that any fatal incident is one too many.
“Once the police investigation is complete, officers will review the findings carefully to determine whether there are any further measures that could improve safety on this stretch of the Bath Road.”
He then clarified that enforcing the 30mph speed limit is a police responsibility, and that street lighting was working at the time of the crash.
Cllr Ennis added that the Bath Road–Castle Hill Active Travel Scheme the council is progressing will improve safety along the route.
In closing, he said: “We will continue to engage with police and other relevant stakeholders as part of our ongoing review of road safety across the network.
“We will ensure that any learning from this incident is fully considered as part of that process.
“I hope this provides some reassurance that the council remains committed to improving road safety and will continue to work with partners to do so.”
Men aged 27 and 41 were arrested and subsequently released following the incident in November last year.
