Oxfordshire town roads could all be 20mph under new plans

Oxford Bus company was reacting to county council plans which could result in a speed reduction being imposed across Abingdon. 

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) ran a consultation for those living in the town between August 31 and September 30, 2022 about the scheme.

Residents in Abingdon East, Abingdon North and Abingdon South were asked about new 20mph limits for “several radial routes” and a 30mph ring road.

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Andrew Gant, cabinet member for highway management, is due to make a decision on the introduction of the new 20mph limits this Thursday.

If approved, all the existing 30mph roads in Abingdon will have a new limit of 20mph, except for the peripheral roads and Copenhagen Drive. 

The change in speed limits has strong support from Abingdon Town Council which is in favour of a “blanket 20mph limit across the town and a 30mph limit on the peripheral roads.”

But one bus company boss is not feeling quite so upbeat about the idea.

Oxford Bus Company’s managing director Luke Marion said: “The roads involved constitute movement corridors where frequent and planned mixing between traffic and vulnerable road users does not happen to a level justifying the introduction of the 20mph limit.

"This will have a negative impact on bus journey times that would result.”

He added: “Buses need to make progress where they can in order to be a viable and attractive alternative to private cars and to attract patronage in order to help to achieve the council's stated objectives to remove one in four car journeys.

“Proposals will be highly likely to lead to a material reduction in bus services in Abingdon.”

One of routes where a new 20mph limit is being proposed is on Oxford Road between Tesco Express at 15 Oxford Road and Peachcroft Roundabout.

The Oxford Bus Company highlighted that introducing the lower speed limit here would be very disruptive, as this part of the road is a “major movement corridor with 6 buses per hour for large parts of the week, with regular bus services late into evenings and on Sundays.”

The county council received 278 responses during the course of the consultation online and 46 per cent of respondents (127) indicated they were in favour of introducing 20mph limits, as opposed to 39 per cent (109) who were opposed.

Abingdon town councillor Pat Lonergan, who voted in favour of the new limits, said: “Safety is more important than the convenience of bus company and car drivers.”

Despite the council outlining that one of the main aims behind changing the limits is to “make more environmentally friendly modes of travel such as walking and cycling more attractive”, 59 per cent of respondents said they would not be changing how they travelled in the area.

A business in Abingdon outlined its objection by stating: “The impact of slowing many of the speed limits in Oxfordshire is really significant.

"We are a care business and our carers who encounter 20mph speed limits will take 50 per cent longer to reach their destinations.

“This impacts on the care they provide and reduces their earnings.”

Many residents who responded to the consultation expressed their concern that the new limits will intensify traffic congestion and cause greater idling.

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One respondent from The Warren in Abingdon said: “This will negatively impact people's journeys adding time and causing further congestion in Abingdon.”

Another resident from Masefield in Abingdon said: “I’m happy for all housing areas to be 20mph but think the main roads should stay at 30mph because these become busy and idling an engine in a low gear isn’t good for the car plus it will no doubt cause more pollution.”

Thames Valley Police has not objected to the proposed 20mph limits but have said they have "concerns".

It has suggested that a new 20mph limit will not be enforceable as the “Fixed Safety Cameras within the 20 limit can no longer function.”