Witney has today become one of the first towns in England to follow Wales in reducing all residential speed limits to 20mph.

Dozens of 30mph roads will have their speed limits lowered to 20mph and in some areas of the town, limits will be cut from 50mph to 40mph and from 40mph to 30mph.

The new speed limits are formally enforceable from today.

The changes are being done to make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Witney chose to become the first town in Oxfordshire to have 20mph residential zones in July.

Thames Valley Police did not object but said the limits will only be enforced 'where appropriate'.

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The county council says the emphasis is on drivers adhering to the new limits through a change of mindset, rather than enforcement.

"It is hoped that as 20mph areas become more common, breaking the limit will become socially unacceptable for drivers," it said.

It said it is also committed to working with taxi and haulage companies, and officers will work with the bus companies "to ensure that the impact on services is minimal".

The changes are part of Oxfordshire County Council's plan to cut speed limits in communities which support it which will cost up to £8million over the next three years.

But some drivers have questioned the move and more than half of people who took part in a consultation objected to the new limits.

Of the 288 online responses, only 93 supported the scheme.

The Conservative MP for Witney Robert Courts said: "There is a case for targeted 20mph limits, for example near schools or anywhere that might be a danger, but what we gave here is a blanket approach."

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for Highways Management, called it "a landmark moment".

“Witney is the first and the biggest project we are undertaking in this phase of the programme and we believe these changes will make the town a safer, quieter, and less polluted place and will encourage more people to cycle and walk – reducing the county’s carbon footprint," he said.

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He said that the decision to implement a 20mph zone across all residential areas in Wales taken a week before had been a big influence on the outcome in Witney.

Councillor 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.”

The county council was criticised after new 20mph signs were put up near existing 30mph and 40mph signs and road paint spelling out the old 30 and 40mph limits was not removed.

Every single one of the now-obsolete new signs has had to be covered up with black bags until the mistake could be corrected.

A county council spokesperson said "all the issues with signage around the implementation of new 20mph limits in Witney are expected to be resolved by Wednesday."

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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