A motorcycle group has criticised the county council after it was not consulted over plans for 20 mph speed limits across Oxford.

The Oxfordshire branch of the British Motorcyclists’ Federation believes consultation carried out for the ambitious move is flawed.

However, the county council has insisted there is still time for the group to have its say.

Spokesman Hugh Jaeger said the information gathered does not give a balanced picture of all road users’ views.

He said: “We raise things with the county council, but the county council never comes to us.

“The consultation they have carried out so far is like putting a wet finger in the wind to see what the weather is like.

“I don’t want to be cruel, but I’m really annoyed that they haven’t come to us with this.”

The Oxford Mail reported last month how more than 570 people sent responses back to the county council and 400 people attended public meetings held throughout September and October.

Mr Jaeger said his group represented more than 150 individual motorcyclists, as well as various branches of local and national motorcycle clubs.

Mr Jaeger questioned whether the scheme would have any impact.

He said: “So far I haven’t seen any evidence that it will significantly make roads safer, reduce casualties or reduce emissions.

“I don’t think there are any robust models on what the effects will be on Oxford’s traffic.”

He also pointed to the fact that the county council was a member of Oxfordshire Motorcycle Forum, set up in 2006 under its own Local Transport Plan.

“The forum met on September 24, but the county did not tell local motorcycling representatives about the 20 mph proposals or the consultation,” he said.

“I found out about the consultation only because I belong to the Oxford Pedestrians’Association, which asked all its members to respond.”

However, Mr Jaeger said these meetings were dominated by campaigners lobbying for the 20 mph limit.

He added: “The county council must make the greatest effort to involve all types of road user in the formal consultation. Not just a selection of pro-limit groups who will give the answer it wants to hear.”

Geoff Barrell, a member of the county council's transport team, said: "A formal consultation process for the 20mph speed limit proposals will take place during January when we will invite comments from all interested parties.

“We will listen to and consider all the comments that we receive."