New transport measures have been approved for an Oxfordshire village where speeding has taken place to the dismay of locals.
The B4027 Wheatley Road in Islip near Oxford and Kidlington is going to get a new full-width road hump following concerns people "completely ignore" the speed limit.
The plans were approved despite the objection of a local representative who urged the county's highways chief to "listen to the little people".
A final call was made by cabinet member for transport management Andrew Gant to accept the recommendations at a county council meeting on Thursday (September 5) last week.
READ MORE: Traffic measures to come to 'dangerous' Oxford suburb road
This comes as a county council meeting paper said: "The proposals will help promote road safety for all road users and continues the county council's responsibility to consider the provision of convenient and safe movement of motor vehicles and other traffic, and the proposed measures are aimed at ensuring that danger is minimised whilst facilitating the effective and safe passage of traffic."
But a speaker at Thursday's meeting - Dennis Price - who came out to represent Islip Parish Council believed the measures did not go far enough and believes the "single hump on the south side of Islip Bridge" would be "insufficient".
Mr Price added: "Many vehicles speed up and down the hill well in excess of the 20mph speed limit."
He added vehicles had to be detected by their sound and this was "not much use if they are electric".
The councillor questioned why "two sets of cushions" trialled previously could not be implemented again as these "resulted in virtually no vehicles exceeding the speed limit".
Mr Price continued: "Please consider the experience and observation of those who live and work with it daily.
"I hope this will not be another example of the little people not being listened to.
"In this case I hope you will listen to our view."
Mr Gant responded: "Please be absolutely assured that your views are very much listened to and certainly I don’t regard elected parish councillors as the little people – quite the reverse. Or indeed residents."
The highways chief clarified the reason two humps could not be implemented as "technical and legal" as street lighting was also needed which was "outside the scope of this scheme".
The comments come as a formal consultation carried out in July and August saw only one person - of the 10 respondents - support the scheme.
There were four objections, two partially supporting, and three submitting non-objections.
A supporter of the measures said: "I live at the apex of Bridge and Collice Streets, nobody observes the traffic or is impacted as much as I am.
"The 20mph speed limit is completely ignored at the moment and traffic immediately accelerates off the bridge in the direction of Wheatley, reaching frequently speeds of 30 or 40mph before the brow of the hill."
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About the author
Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county.
She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.
Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi
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