Oxfordshire County Council is seeking public response to its plans to expand 20mph speed limits throughout Wallingford.

The council proposed this expansion following the advancement of road safety concerns within the parish and in a further push to promote alternative modes of transport for local travel such as walking and cycling.

The proposal would see the majority of the town’s 30mph speed limits reduced, incorporating the existing ‘north’ and ‘central’ 20mph speed limits which were first introduced in early 2022. The 30mph limit however would be retained on approaches to the town on Castle Street and Shillingford Road, Reading Road, Winterbrook Lane, Hithercroft Road and Wantage Road.

The proposal has now entered its public consultation stage and the council is asking town residents to give their views on the expansion of 20mph limits. Wantage is the most recent of many towns and villages across the county to see widespread 20mph limits implemented.

The county council has stated that, once views have been gathered, it will then review all responses and, on the basis objections are lodged, prepare a report to be presented to councillor Andrew Gant, cabinet member for highway management, at a meeting which will take place no later than early 2024.

This will be public meeting at which members of the public can apply to speak. The agenda and reports for meetings will also be made available on the county council website approximately a week before the meeting.

Residents can have their say by completing a survey on the county council website.

Responses must be submitted by 5pm on Friday, November 17. The survey can be accessed using the following link: https://shorturl.at/hBMPV

Cllr Pete Sudbury, county councillor for Wallingford and cabinet member for climate change delivery and environment, has expressed ardent support for the wider rollout of 20mph limits throughout the town.

He said: “My support for this reduction is inspired by an experience I had where one of my children nearly walked in front of a 4x4 on a main road.

"If my wife didn’t grab her, she would have been hit. By just installing signs alerting drivers to a 20mph, this can reduce serious injury and death by 20 per cent.

“Those who oppose this reduction should ask themselves what they think a tolerable rate of death and injury should be, especially if it were themselves or a family member concerned.

"Whilst some town councillors were not in favour, this proposed reduction has been on the agenda for some time now and is in the local plan.”

Some Wallingford residents however do not share Mr Sudbury’s views. 

Some people have taken to social media in response to the proposal, expressing concern over a lack of conclusive evidence to support the speed reduction, 20mph limits potentially increasing pollution due to an increase in journey times and that, if implemented, the new limits would not be adhered to without means of enforcement such as speed cameras.