Opinions split over Oxfordshire 20mph rollout

Supporters say it saves lives - but others question if 20mph is being enforced properly in Oxfordshire and if the scheme is good value for money

Driving through Oxfordshire's towns and villages, it is clear that the default speed limit for anywhere away from major roads is no longer 30mph.

Most residential areas now have a 20mph limit - a change that some love and others loathe.

The rollout has been happening since 2022, and the new limit is in now in place in more than 200 places.

But ahead of local elections for Oxfordshire County Council on 1 May, residents and candidates remain split on whether the 20mph scheme has been a success or a waste of money.

Linda Morris, Paul Clement and Kieran Andrews spoke to the BBC in Banbury and had mixed views about whether 20mph was a good idea

For places to get a 20mph speed limit in Oxfordshire, a degree of local support has to be demonstrated.

The zones need the backing of both the parish or town council and the area's county councillor.

Many have proved uncontroversial - but in larger towns in particular there has been opposition.

More than three quarters of people responding to a consultation on a 20mph limit for most roads in Banbury objected or expressed concerns.

After a review, new 20mph zones were brought in, but four routes were excluded.

Now the limit is in place, residents we spoke to had mixed views on whether it has been a good thing for the town.

Kieran Andrews said he thought 20mph was "too slow".

"It builds up the traffic and then stops everyone from getting where they need to be as soon as possible," he said.

But Paul Clement said the benefits were huge.

"The difference between 20mph and 30mph in respect of safety is phenomenal," he said.

Linda Morris also supported the limit - but said vehicles were not respecting it.

She said: "A lot of people down here aren't actually doing 20mph they're doing a lot more."

Candidates that took part in BBC Oxford's debate ahead of Oxfordshire County Council's election on May 1 were also split over 20mph.

Concerns were raised about the lack of enforcement.

Labour's Liz Brighouse said: "It really is frustrating to see roads, which should be 20mph and people are actually going on them sometimes 60 or 70mph and that really can't be acceptable."

Felix Bloomfield from Reform UK said: "This is something that Thames Valley Police cannot enforce.

"They've told us that their 30mph speed cameras cannot be recalibrated to deal with 20mph zones.

"And they don't have capacity to police with mobile cameras."

Originally £8m was budgeted for the scheme, but the authority now says it will be completed in the next financial year for a total of just over 3.8m.

Some have questioned if it was all money well spent.

Conservative Eddie Reeves said in the village of Cropredy there was "a new 20mph sign literally signposted on a 90 degree bend".

"Now you cannot drive more than about five or maybe max 10mph," he said.

"The 20mph zone, therefore, is a complete nonsense."

But the Liberal Democrats and Green Party, who have been running the authority while 20mph has been implemented, defended the scheme.

Liberal Democrat Dan Levy said: "I think it's been a huge benefit to the people of Oxfordshire.

"Where there are 20mph zones we've seen a reduction in accidents and an increase in people cycling and walking, particularly to school."

Helena Richards from the Green Party said: "If you're a pedestrian hit by a car at 20mph you are seven times more likely to survive than if you were hit by that same car at 30mph."

Polls are open for the Oxfordshire County Council election between 07:00 and 22:00 on 1 May.