Number of 20mph schemes approved in Oxfordshire passes 200

As man as 25 applications were given the go ahead by Oxfordshire County Council, including ones in the towns of Banbury, Thame and Wallingford yesterday, Thursday, September 5. 

It takes the total number of approved 20mph schemes in the county to 214 since the project began in 2022.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport management, said: “This is an incredible landmark and I want to thank all the communities who have been in touch with us, asking to make their residential streets safer and more pleasant places.

READ MORE: Dozens of new 20mph speed limits approved for Oxfordshire

“Throughout the delivery of this programme we have been clear about the advantages it brings.

"You are seven times more likely to survive if you are hit by a car driving at 20mph than if you are hit at 30mph.

“Reducing speeds in residential areas is a vital pillar of our commitment to Vision Zero – our ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.”

Numerous speakers turned up to voice their thoughts on the proposals including Conservative county councillor Kieron Mallon, who raised concerns in relation to Banbury.

Kieron Mallon in the meeting (Image: OCC.)

Mr Mallon said: "I do not support large 20mph zones even the one before you today but I am glad that my intervention supporting the original objections and supporting the businesses has led to common sense breaking out at Oxfordshire County Council.

"For Banbury to thrive commercially it needs traffic to flow through it – that is all forms of traffic."

The latest areas to have their applications approved by Mr Gant at the decision-making meeting also included Appleford, Berinsfield, and Brize Meadow, along with whole host of other villages.

Decisions on more than 30 other applications are set to be made in the future.

Unlike the approach taken in Wales, where the 30mph limit was changed by default to 20mph in built-up areas, the Oxfordshire rollout has been led by residents in the towns and villages and each scheme has been tailored to local needs.

The Welsh approach has now been revised and is much closer to Oxfordshire’s, with much greater local input from councils into whether, and how, speed limits should be changed.

READ MORE: Over £800 worth of items stolen from Banbury retail park

To be eligible for 20mph in Oxfordshire, an application must initially be supported by each affected town or parish council and the local county councillor.

A public consultation then takes place, with opportunities for people to influence the design and the adoption of the scheme within the constraints of the approved 20mph policy and guidance.

Once the remaining schemes are implemented across the county, a period of monitoring and evaluation will take place to assess the effectiveness of the measures, and any locations where further intervention may be beneficial to ensure the outcomes of the project are achieved.