A public consultation has been launched on proposals to introduce a 20mph speed limit throughout Witney.
The speed limit is already 20mph in the Cogges, north-east and town centre areas.
Now Oxfordshire County Council is proposing to introduce or reduce 30mph and 40mph speed limits on other key routes, according to the road environment and the amount of traffic using them.
The 20mph speed limit will lead out to points on:
A4095 Woodstock Road,
New Yatt Road,
B4022 Hailey Road,
Witney/Crawley Road,
B4047 Burford Road,
A4095 Curbridge Road,
Stanton Harcourt Road, and
B4022 Oxford Hill.
The A415 Ducklington Lane and Station Road will keep a 30mph limit.
On the B4047 Burford Road, Deer Park Road, and Thorney Leys the current 40mph limit will be reduced to 30mph.
And the 50mph speed limit on Jubilee Road, the A4095 Witney Road, and on the A4095 Woodstock Road will be reduced to 40mph.
Witney Town Council said it was "delighted to have been working alongside Oxfordshire County Council on the proposals" which would make Witney the largest town in Oxfordshire to pilot a large-scale speed reduction to 20mph, funded entirely by the county council.
READ ALSO: Shock as petrol spotted at 87.9p per litre at Shell filling station
Councillor Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We’re delighted that more than 70 villages and some urban areas throughout the county have signed up to request their streets are reduced to 20mph speed limits after an initiative we agreed last autumn.
"It’s a pleasure to see that plan taking shape and local communities will reap the benefit in terms of safer streets.”
Overview plan can be accessed on the consultation link (details below)
Witney Town Council has campaigned for speed restrictions following requests from residents for some time.
It said it hopes this scheme, "brought about by a change of policy and approach to simplify speed limit requests by the county council, will encourage active and safer travel across Witney for all".
According to the town council, drivers have responded well to the 20mph reductions already created between Tower Hill and Madley Park.
Several stretches of road on the outskirts of the town are not suitable for a 20mph limit and the speed limits here are proposed to be proportionate to the surrounding road layout.
Cllr Liz Duncan, mayor of Witney, and chair of a Town Council working party set up to develop the scheme, said: “It is exciting to see this comprehensive 20mph scheme coming to our town, bringing improved road safety for residential streets, reducing the risks of death and injury.
"We have received many requests from residents for the reduced speed limit and this whole town approach will bring huge benefits.
"As well as safer streets, other similar schemes have seen reductions in traffic noise, better air quality and increased physical activity because with roads feeling safer, people are happier to leave the car at home and walk or cycle instead.”
READ ALSO: Dismay as precious Jubilee hedgerow chopped down to make way for park and ride
The county council has launched a consultation on its website which closes on Friday July 8 2022.
It will then review the responses and if objections are received, a report will be presented to Andrew Gant, the cabinet member for highway management, at a meeting scheduled for later in 2022.
This will be public meeting at which members of the public may apply to speak and the agenda and reports will be made available on the Oxfordshire County Council website about a week before the meeting.
You can respond to the consultation at
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel