News spread on social media after cameras appeared on a town's high street where drivers reportedly ignore the 20mph limit.

Photographs of Witney High Street have been shared on social media under captions such as 'sneaky'.

Last November it was revealed Oxfordshire County Council had spent thousands enlarging 20mph signs in the town as they were being continually ignored.

However, the new cameras are not to do with the speed limit and have been put in a place as part of a parking survey, the county council has confirmed.

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There should be 15 cameras in place, with the survey work starting on February 21, and due to end on February 24 when the equipment will be removed.

The survey is believed to part of the development of the design of the Witney High Street and Market Square enhancement scheme which is at an early stage.

The results of feedback following informal community engagement were published in December.

The report showed overall, the scheme was supported by roughly 66 per cent of survey respondents.

Most support the scheme objectives and the most requested improvements for the High Street designs were better footway surfacing, more trees, more plants/gardens and more seating.

The county council was awarded £1.98million from the Government's Active Travel Fund to pay for the scheme after it decided the traffic restriction on private vehicles on Witney High Street and Market Square should remain.

As a design option has not yet been approved, the traffic management arrangements are yet to be confirmed.

Oxfordshire County Council said it will coordinate future work to minimise the impact on local businesses, visitors and residents.

Further details of this will be available on its website and in local notices closer to the construction stage.

A formal consultation on the draft design will take place during spring 2024.

That feedback will then be reviewed and used to make any necessary amendments to the draft design in summer 2024, before construction begins in the autumn.

Last December the county council was criticised by Conservative councillors after it was revealed that it spent £11,000 enlarging 20mph speed limit signs around Witney because drivers were repeatedly ignoring the speed limit.

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In a response to a question from Cllr Liam Walker, Cllr Andrew Gant, cabinet member responsible for highways in Oxfordshire, said: "The larger signs were installed to increase the visibility of the new speed limit due to continuing reported non-compliance.

"When such concerns are expressed, we consider increasing the size of signs, but only on major routes."

A spokesperson for the county council said the new cameras "are not enforcing speed or any other traffic regulations.

"Anything of that nature would require consultation and a formal decision making process."