£8m allocated to 20mph schemes in Oxfordshire

The scheme encourages more walking and cycling and hopes to create safer and more pleasant places

An £8 million budget has been agreed to accelerate the project which allows local communities to reduce the speed on their local roads from 30 to 20 miles per hour.

The money from Oxfordshire County Council will pay for sign-only measures. The intention is to encourage more walking and cycling and create safer and more pleasant places for communities.

70 areas across Oxfordshire have applied to be included in phase one of the scheme, with more applications welcomed for inclusion in the next phases.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “To encourage cycling and walking we are investing £8m in a programme to make 20mph the new normal in residential areas across Oxfordshire.

“We are also putting aside £6m to support our bid to government with the bus companies for electric buses.

“We recognise that if people are to willingly leave their cars at home, we must provide exceptional alternative forms of transport. Under this alliance no-one will be left behind as we move towards a more sustainable people-centric transport network.”

The scheme is free to town and parish councils, although they would be expected to fund any traffic calming measures or speed-activated signs that may be required.