Villagers are pleading with civic chiefs to act over consistent speeding on a road running through their community. 

A recent speed survey found that 70 per cent of vehicles were breaking the 20mph speed limit on Lower Icknield Way in Chinnor. 

Paul Martell, who lives in the road, is urging Oxfordshire County Council to take more measures to prevent potential accidents. 

This comes after South Oxfordshire District Council permitted a controversial scheme for nine new homes to replace one in the same road. 

Objections had been raised by locals as well as Chinnor Parish Council.

A total of 26 people submitted their opposition. 

Mr Martell, who has lived in Chinnor for 30 years, said: “It was a lovely quiet village when we moved here and our house was adjacent to open fields. 

READ MORE: Nine homes planned for Oxfordshire village despite concerns

Previous crash in Lower Icknield Way (Image: Contributed) “Along with other residents we objected to the development but our objections were ignored. One of our key objections was the impact on traffic through the village.

"It is now like living next to a motorway. The volume of traffic along Lower Icknield Way has increased dramatically as has anti-social driving, especially speeding.

"It is supposed to be 20mph but the limit is ignored by the majority of road users. 

“Successive traffic surveys have highlighted the problems of persistent speeding.”

Traffic speeds of 51,007 vehicles were recorded on the stretch of road on seven days in September. 

It found that 70 per cent of vehicles were breaking the speed limit. Also, 22 per cent were found to be driving faster than 25mph. 

Mr Martell added: “That's 575,016 drivers a year driving through a 20mph zone at speeds that should see them prosecuted.

“The paths are narrow, uneven, and poorly lit and school children and mums with prams etc have to cross the road in several places to get to buses, schools, and shops and they do this with traffic coming at them in both directions at speeds of 40-60mph.

“The September survey recorded a vehicle at 90mph and the previous survey (March 2023) recorded a vehicle being driven at 80mph.

"Apart from the danger to pedestrians etc the noise from the road has become 24/7 and is having a very detrimental impact on the environment and welfare of residents.

“Oxfordshire County Council has shown a similar lack of interest in addressing the problem of speeding.

"They hide behind their Vision Zero strategy which aims to eliminate road deaths in Oxfordshire by 2050 - we'll all be dead by then anyway.”

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said: “While Oxfordshire County Council has been funding sign-only 20mph schemes, where requested by local communities, any additional traffic calming measures will need to be funded by the local town or parish council.”

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby