Hanwell Fields group expresses concerns on 20mph zones as local road gets limit

The County Council’s policy says all new developments will have lower speed limit

A new street in Banbury will have a 20mph speed limit following a decision taken by Oxfordshire County Council – but the street and houses are yet to be built and some local people don’t appear to want the limit.

Across Oxfordshire the County Council is inviting communities to suggest suitable sites for the implementation of 20mph limits.   In the case of new developments the Council’s policy is that all residential roads should have 20mph limits.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, Councillor Andrew Gant, agreed to the 20mph limit for the development that is being built north of Dukes Meadow Drive and west of the Southam Road in Banbury.  

The project will be funded by the developer.

A report to Councillor Gant noted that 18 responses were received during a formal consultation.   These included 13 objections, two notes of concern and two in support.

Stagecoach buses noted they would be using a link road through the aera, between the Southam Road and Dukes Meadow Drive.   Councillor Gant noted that the limit of 20mph on this short 200 metre stretch was unlikely to affect journey times.

The Hanwell Fields Development Action Group objected to both the development and the proposed 20mph speed limit.   They cited a lack of need and concerns that proposals for 20mph limits may be extended to include the established Hanwell Fields residential area.   The group expressed strong reservations on 20mph speed limits in general and noted there appeared to be no resources to monitor or enforce them.

In approving the 20mph limit as proposed Councillor Gant chose not to comment on any of the representations made by local objectors, noting only the “traditional concerns” of Thames Valley Police and Stagecoach.

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Published: 23/11/2022 01:59pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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