SPEED limits in Abingdon town centre will be cut to 20mph by April unless residents speak out against the plan.

Oxfordshire County Council wants to lower limits from 30mph on 24 roads including Ock Street, Bridge Street, Bath Street, Abbey Close, Stert Street, High Street, East and West St Helen’s Street and St Helen’s Wharf.

The council claims the move will make the streets safer.

Lesley White, landlady of The Old Anchor Inn, in St Helen’s Wharf, said: “I would definitely welcome lower speeds because people absolutely tear up our road.

“They go flying past the pub and a lot of the customers notice them going well over 30mph.”

But Roland Mayer-Jones, landlord of the Cross Keys, in Ock Street, said: “I don’t think the changes will make a lot of difference because often the traffic crawls along at 5mph anyway.

“I think it’s a good idea for residential areas – but the council needs to concentrate on getting traffic moving.”

Last month, Abingdon headteachers called for £500,000 of safety improvements on the town's roads after the deaths of Larkmead School pupils Ty-Ree Partridge and Sarah Waterhouse.

Larkmead deputy headteacher Jonathan Dennett said: “It is vital that they extend any 20mph zone to the area around the secondary and primary schools. A lower speed limit in the town centre would be a welcome measure, but does not address the issues we have raised.”

Steve King, who organised a petition against the strategy, said that if the speed limit were cut, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings could be removed to ease steady traffic flow. He added: “In principle it’s a good idea, but there’s no need for it to be active at 3am – I think if the limits operated just in daylight that would be fine.”

Oxfordshire County Council imposed 20mph limits on most residential roads in Oxford in September.

Leader of Abingdon Town Council, Lesley Legge, said 20mph roads would be more pedestrian-friendly.

County cabinet member Ian Hudspeth will decide on the plans on January 7. He said: “The lower speed limit would improve the environment, safety and quality of life for pedestrians, cyclists and residents and the erection of signs would cost relatively little.

“We’re looking at the headteachers’ proposals about changes to roads near their schools but will report back once we assess whether they’re feasible.”

The council intends to reduce the following roads to 20mph: Bridge Street, Broad Street, Burgess Close, Checker Walk, East St Helen’s Street, High Street, Lombard Street, Magnette Close, Neave Mews, Old Station Yard, Queen Street, St Edmunds Lane, St Helen’s Court, Thames Street, The Square, Turnagain Lane, West St Helen’s Street, Winsmore Lane.

Sections of the following would also be affected; Abbey Close, the A415 Causeway, Bath Street, Ock Street, St Helen’s Wharf and Stert Street.

Comments should be sent to Huw Jones, director for environment and economy, Oxfordshire County Council, Speedwell House, Speedwell Street, Oxford OX1 1NE, by December 4.