Council to test 20mph zones

From the archive, first published Thursday 24th Apr 2003.

County councillors have agreed to test two 20mph zones in central Oxford and Thame.

In Oxford, the 20mph zone will be introduced once CCTV cameras have been installed to enforce the city's transport strategy, which is credited with cutting congestion in the centre of Oxford by 20 per cent since its introduction in 1999.

Low-key measures, including road markings and signs, will be used to encourage drivers to cut their speed rather than road humps being laid.

Transport officers hope the new speed limit, agreed by the executive board, will curb the speed of buses and the number of accidents in High Street, St Aldate's and George Street.

Keith Mitchell, leader of the council, who drives a BMW Z3 to County Hall from his home near Banbury, said he would support the plan, which is designed to protect cyclists and pedestrians in particular.

He added: "It's quite hard in a modern car to drive at 20mph because it pulls away from you.

"I'm going to support this, because if I don't, speed humps will be introduced."

The 20mph speed limit will be introduced in High Street, St Aldate's, New Road, Worcester Street, George Street, Cornmarket Street, Queen Street and Broad Street.

Money from a £350,000 casualty reduction budget will be used to pay for the measures.

Last month, the council's executive board agreed to put cameras in High Street, George Street, Castle Street and Magdalen Street East to ensure only buses and taxis used bus lanes.

The new £180,000 surveillance system should be in place in the next few months. Thame Town Council has expressed a strong interest in the introduction of an extensive 20mph speed limit in the town, which it said would support the well-developed Better Ways to School programme.

In the first phase, the limit is likely to include the town centre and residential roads, but will exclude the main roads leading into the town from the bypass and perimeter roads.

Diana Ludlow, county councillor for Thame, who is also a town councillor, said she hoped that the new 20mph limit could be in place by September following public consultation.

She added: "The limit will make the town centre much better for people crossing the road and will also rule out the need for more speed humps."