People in Oxford overwhelmingly back the idea of 20mph speed limits, a survey published today shows.

The county council ordered the consultation after proposing to spend up to £300,000 on installing 20mph signs on residential roads in Oxford and some sections of A and B roads.

More than 570 responded by filling in forms and sending emails, with 400 more attending public meetings held during September and October. As nearly two thirds of those surveyed were in favour, a 20mph scheme is likely to be introduced in the summer.

James Styring, of the cycling group Cyclox, said: "It is a great news. The real battleground will now be the arterial roads.

"From the cyclists' point of view, it would be good if all roads within the ring road had the same 20mph speed limit, rather than just residential areas and high-volume roads."

Corinne Grimley Evans, joint co-ordinator of the Life Begins at 20 group, called the results "impressive" but added: "We need something simpler."

But Mark McArthur-Christie, director of the Oxford based Transport think tank, Forward, said: "Low speeds are desirable in urban areas, but these 20mph limits won't bring them about. It is a most ineffective way to get people to drive more slowly."

The show of public support came as the Government signalled its readiness to give local transport officers new power to cut speed limits to 20mph. Transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick said he agreed with an MPs report calling for lower speed limits to be introduced more widely.

Ian Hudspeth, county councillor cabinet minister for Transport, said: "We now need to go away and examine in detail what people have said to us. It seems that the majority of people are in favour of what we have proposed.

"We have received a lot of comments, however, and we will analyse and consider whether we need to modify detail in places."

A second consultation should now be held early next year.