PLANS to introduce a 20mph speed limit in Abingdon town centre have been put on hold as part of the county council’s spending review.

The scheme was placed under review at the last meeting of the full council and will not come into force this year as planned.

The scheme to cut the 30mph limit was opposed by the police and the town council, but was approved by the county council in February.

Sarah Brinkley, deputy headteacher at the town’s John Mason School, said: “If we’re to encourage our children to live healthily and to feel safe in our community, then we have to encourage the drivers to participate too. Not every driver is aware of children, and if reducing the speed limit makes that a reality then that is a good thing.

“If going to 20 would make a difference, the time to lower the limit is now.”

Thames Valley Police said the town centre streets were unsuitable for speed reductions and that extra traffic-calming measures would be needed if a reduced limit was to have any effect.

The town council said members had concerns about how the limit would be enforced.

A survey carried out for the county council found that the average speed on the roads covered by the proposal was between 16mph and 21mph.