Taxi drivers have warned that proposed 20mph speed limits in parts of Wantage will increase journey times.

While cab firms in and around the town acknowledged the safety benefits of the speed reduction, some claimed slower traffic could affect their business.

A consultation has been launched by Oxfordshire County Council on the proposed 20mph limits, which would cover most of the town centre while peripheral roads would remain at 30mph.

To access the consultation, visit: https://bit.ly/46ANPQE

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A driver for Grove Cabs, who asked not to be named, said: “We’re not overpleased because a lot of it is unnecessary.

Herald Series: Wantage town centre

“If you have a walk around, you will see pedestrians with earphones who haven’t got a clue about what’s going on around them. Maybe they should show more awareness.

“Motorists are being punished all the time. Sometimes it's deserved and sometimes it isn’t. 20mph is important where it is necessary, but it’s not always necessary.

“If they scatter them all over the place, it will have a big impact. It means it will take longer and longer to get anywhere.

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“We normally allow 15 minutes to get to a place and pick up, but if the limit is brought in, it could become 20 minutes. That five minutes can make a difference.”

Steven Gills said the limits would increase journey time for his taxi service Webb’s of Wantage, but admitted there would also be benefits.

“It’s a difficult one,” he said. “It will take us longer to do the jobs, but at the same time there’s less chance of one of my vehicles getting banged, or at least the damage will be less significant.

Herald Series: A map of the proposed 20mph speed limits

“It won’t affect us too much, as long as the people that currently drive at 20 in a 30 don’t start driving at 10 in a 20.”

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But Simon Jeffreys, who runs Secure Car Services in town, didn’t think the limits would affect his business at all.

He said: “It won’t make much of a difference in the town centre because people aren’t really flying around the town square at 30mph.

“It’s needed at the periphery, such as the A338.”

The plans are part of the council’s three-year scheme to introduce 20mph speeds as the new 30mph for communities where there is local support.

Wantage Town Council applied to the council to bring in the 20mph limits.

Mayor Angela Dunford said: “There’s a growing need to reduce the speeds of traffic through town and it’s really important we consider pedestrians and cyclists and make sure the speed of traffic is safe.”

The deadline for responses is July 28.

The council will review the responses, and, if objections are received, will present a report to Andrew Gant, cabinet member for highway management, at a meeting later this year.

A county council spokesman said: "We would urge anyone with opinions about the proposed 20mph speed limits in Wantage to take part in the consultation. All feedback will be considered as part of the decision-making process."