Decision on new 20mph scheme in Abingdon due this week

A limit of 20mph would be the default speed in residential areas and 30mph the new speed on the ring road around Abingdon.

The proposals went out to consultation between August 31 and September 30 last year.

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It comes amid an effort to reduce the number of collisions on the roads, lower emissions and noise pollution, as well as encouraging more people to get out of their cars and use other forms of transport.

Responses from residents on the proposals have been mixed.

But bus companies wanted the speed to remain 30mph on their main routes across Drayton, Wootton and Oxford Road on the basis that otherwise the services would get held up.

Oxford Bus Company’s managing director Luke Marion said in February: “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.”

Abingdon town centre

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.

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

Councillor Nathan Ley, who represents Abingdon North on Oxfordshire County Council, believes a compromise has been reached.

The internal 20mph zone is set to begin at Northcourt Road junction (Wootton Road), Norman Avenue (Oxford Road), just north of Hartwell’s (Drayton Road) and Daisy Bank (Radley Road).

According to Dr Ley, this newly proposed 20mph zone would not impact bus journey times.

It comes after a number of places across the county have recently had new 20mph limits approved. 

East Hanney is among the villages and towns with a new speed limit after this was passed.

This is despite objections from bus companies including Thames Travel who claimed parts of the speed reduction in East Hanney would slow its vehicles and force customers to use alternative forms of travel. 

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