Dozens of new 20mph speed limits approved for Oxfordshire

A total of 27 areas in the county are set to get changes to their transport rules after county council cabinet member for transport management, Andrew Gant, approved them in a meeting yesterday (September 5).

Areas affected range from Banbury to Thame along with a whole host of Oxfordshire villages.

READ MORE: Oxford Botley Road cycle lane to be removed despite fears

Numerous speakers turned up to voice their thoughts on the proposals including Conservative county councillor Kieron Mallon who raised concerns in relation to Banbury.

Kieron Mallon in the meeting. (Image: OCC.)

Mr Mallon said: "I do not support large 20mph zones even the one before you today but I am glad that my intervention supporting the original objections and supporting the businesses has led to common sense breaking out at Oxfordshire County Council.

"For Banbury to thrive commercially it needs traffic to flow through it – that is all forms of traffic."

The Bloxham & Easington division councillor added, however, that he hoped "this is the scheme you implement and not the previous scheme".

Banbury Active Travel Supporters representative Paul Bonsor said he "fully supported the 20mph speed limit".

Paul Bonsor in the meeting. (Image: OCC.)

But Mr Bonsor added: "We do not agree with the exceptions which have been proposed.

"We believe they would compromise the ambitions of the Vision Zero project and other more local objectives.

"We submitted a proposal for the original '20 is Plenty' and we still fully agree with the principle that it works extremely well in reducing traffic fatalities and accidents, and protects pedestrians, and also widens the scope for cyclists and pedestrians to move around safely and pleasantly in Banbury."

The Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (CoHSAT) chairman Robin Tucker also said he believed the schemes would "reduce casualties" across the county. 

Full approval of all the schemes - bar one in Thame which was approved with amendments - comes despite some consultations racking up a number of objections.

Robin Tucker in the meeting. (Image: OCC.)

For example, of 649 online and four email consultation responses in Banbury, support for the proposals was expressed by 136 local residents, five members of the public, three local councillors, two local groups or organisations, and two businesses.

But concerns were expressed by 78 residents, members of the public and local businesses, whilst 427 respondents objected to the proposals.

Some areas like Brize Norton, however, saw 11 responses received via the online consultation survey during the course of the formal consultation, comprising of two objections, and nine in support for 20mph.

20mph sign. (Image: Other.)

A full list of the approved limits from the meeting can be found below:

Banbury: 20mph

Thame: Radial routes and Heythrop Way - 20mph & 30mph

Wallingford: Radial routes and Hithercroft Road - 20mph

A4260 - between Bodicote and Adderbury - 40mph

A422, Hennef Way, Banbury - 40mph

A44 Manor Road, Woodstock - 30mph limit extension

Appleford: 20mph

Appleton with Eaton: 20mph

Berinsfield: 20mph

Brize Meadow: 20mph

Buscot & Buscot Wick - 20mph

Chadlington - 20mph

Culham - 20mph

Ducklington: 20mph

East Hagbourne: 20mph

Freeland: 20mph

Fyfield & Tubney: 20mph

Horley: 20mph

Kelmscott: 20mph

Little Wittenham: 20mph

Middleton Stoney: 20mph

Northmoor: 20mph

Shipton-on-Cherwell: 20mph

Souldern: 20mph

Sibford Gower: 20mph

Tiddington: 20mph

West Hendred: 20mph

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About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi