New speed restrictions for major A-road

More than a dozen new speed restrictions will be put in place in and around the A4074 between Oxford and Reading

New lower 40mph and 50mph speed limits will be put in place on a busy route between Oxford and Reading in a bid to improve road safety.

The restrictions will be added to the A4074 dual carriageway between Heyford Hill roundabout and Caversham, which passes through Nuneham Courteney, Berinsfield, Wallingford and Woodcote.

They will also be added to some neighbouring roads, including a 40mph limit on parts of the Eastern and Southern bypass, and 50mph on the A4130 Wallingford bypass.

Most of the stretches of road are currently set at the national speed limit, which is 70mph for dual carriages and 60mph on single carriageways.

The decision was approved by councillor Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management at Oxfordshire County Council.

Mapledurham Parish Council supported the proposal, and added Chazey Heath residents "have been calling for such a reduction for many years".

Danny Yee, from Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, said the group supported the changes but argued they should include broader measures for reducing noise pollution and enabling active travel and access to public transport.

But Mark Boulle, who lives in Northway and uses the A-road twice daily for his commute, called the proposals "ludicrous".

He added: "As hundreds of respondents to the consultation said, unless you ban cars from Oxford's highways altogether or have them proceed at walking pace preceded by a person carrying a red flag, there is no speed limit at which there will never be occasional accidents."

New 40mph limit:

• A423 Southern Bypass (Oxford)

• A4142 Eastern Bypass (Oxford)

• A4074 (Oxford, Heyford Hill)

• A4074 (Benson to Crowmarsh)

• Church Lane (Ipsden)

• A4074 (Ipsden to Woodcote) B471

• Oxford Road (Woodcote)

• A4074 (Cane End to Caversham)

New 50mph limit:

• A4074 (Nuneham Courtenay to Berinsfield)

• A4074 (Shillingford to Benson)

• A4074 (Benson to Crowmarsh)

• A4130 Wallingford Bypass

• A4074 (Wallingford to Ipsden)

• A4074 (Ipsden to Woodcote)

• Exlade Street (Checkendon)

• Main Street (Checkendon)

• Reading Road (Woodcote)

The number of objections in the consultation ranged from 57% to 65% of responses for each of the stretches of road.

Councillor Gant said: "This council is committed to it [reducing fatal and severe injuries to road users], and lower speeds have an important part to play in that.

"The link between speed and severity and the number of accidents is unambiguous."

Berinsfield Parish Council objected while Warborough Parish Council strongly objected, both stating the current limits were appropriate.

Thames Travel also argued it would slow down journeys for the X40 bus and asked for mitigations.

Mr Gant added: "...we want to achieve greater safety on the roads and we want to achieve more efficient and attractive buses.

"We don't want those two things to be in competition, and where they are, it's a choice."

He added the council could not commit to any specific mitigations for the buses but would look into doing it in future.

After the changes, the Sandford-on-Thames Bypass would be the only part of the route to remain at 60mph.

Six vehicles were involved in a major crash on the road at Benson Road, near Crowmarsh Gifford, last year.