Views sought on town's new 20mph speed limits

Views are being sought on proposals to extend 20mph zones in an Oxfordshire town.

In the centre of Bicester 20mph speed limits are already in force, but Oxfordshire County Council is proposing to extend the zones outwards.

The authority said the proposals were in response to safety concerns raised by Bicester Town Council.

More than 200 requests to reduce speed limits to 20mph in towns and villages have been approved by the council since the scheme was first introduced in 2022.

In a statement, Oxfordshire County Council said: "[We] want to make our towns and villages safer and more attractive places to walk and cycle.

"To enable this, 20mph speed restrictions are being used to help promote alternative modes of transport for local travel.

"We're therefore asking people for their views on proposals for new 20mph speed limits within Bicester on the residential roads within the town, but with most of the major traffic routes remaining at 30mph."

The proposals would replace the "majority" of the remaining 30mph speed limits in the town.

The council added 20mph schemes would only be considered for approval if they had the backing of the town or district council and the ward county councillors.

It said the proposals would cover the whole length of every road within the parish boundary of Bicester, with some exceptions.

In November it was confirmed by the authority that 20mph speed limits would be enforced by Thames Valley Police after the force had questioned whether it had the resources to do so.

The consultation is available on the county council's website and will be open until 14 February.

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