Further 20mph speed limits will be introduced in Didcot as well as other Oxfordshire villages.
Additional 20mph speed limits will be rolled out in Didcot to cover the part of the town south of the railway line, replacing most of the remaining 30mph speed limits.
20mph speed limits have also been approved for the villages of East Challow, Beckley, Eye & Dunsden and Shenington with Alkerton.
The proposals were approved by councillor Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management on Oxfordshire County Council, at a meeting on Thursday, 23 January.
Councillor Ian Snowdon, who represents Didcot West, said Didcot Town Council’s previous plans to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit for the whole town was “lazy politics”, but he supported introducing the speed limits near schools or on roads with a history of incidents.
He added that having spoken to residents it is “clear to many that this is the first step towards blocking off cars more and more in Didcot”.
Mr Snowdon added that some residents felt that the scheme was part of “incremental steps to achieve some master plan” to reducing car travel in Didcot, which Mr Gant denied later in the meeting.
Robin Tucker spoke on behalf of the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (CoHSAT) in support of the 20mph scheme in general.
He said: “The 20mph programme will already be saving lives, and we should allow it to save more.
“We support all aspects of the given proposals and hope that you will approve them.
“They will make residents safer and create a better environment for people to do basic things, like cross the road or go to local shops or schools in safety.”
He added that some of the other streets left out of the proposal, such as Foxhall Road, should also be reduced to 20mph rather than remain at 30mph.
Mr Tucker said: “If there is a division caused by traffic in our communities, it is between those who recognise the actual and potential harms of automobility, and those who do not.”
Western Valley Parish Council objected to the scheme on the grounds that there was limited adherence to other locations where 20mph speed limits had been put in place.
Mr Gant said: “The scheme has been a huge success.
“Local members and parish and town councils have asked for it in every part of the county and I’m delighted we were able to meet those requests.”
East Hagbourne Parish Council submitted a non-objection.
59 per cent of consultation respondents objected to the Didcot 20mph scheme, while 27 per cent expressed support, 10 per cent expressed ‘partial support’ and four per cent expressed ‘non-objections’.
A consultation on whether to extend 20mph speed limits in Bicester is underway and is due to close on 14 February.
