Have your say on 20mph limit plan (From thisisoxfordshire)

Have your say on 20mph limit plan

3:05pm Monday 1st September 2008

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People are to be given a say about whether a 20mph speed limit should be introduced across Oxford.

Public meetings will be held in September and October on plans to bring in 20mph limits on all minor roads and some sections of A-roads.

For the first time, people living and working in the city can air their views about the proposals.

Lynne Trenery, of Southfield Road, East Oxford, is a member of campaigning group Life Begins at 20, which is calling for a reduction in speed limits. She said: "We would like as many people as possible to go along to the meetings.

"There is definitely a lot of support for the plans within local communities and within the resident groups who have lent their voice to the overall campaign.

Among those backing the scheme is 20-year-old Emma Dibdin, from Headington.

She was seriously injured when hit by a car in Headley Way six years ago - an accident which was not the driver's fault - but could have been avoided if the speed limit was lower.

She said: "The speed limits are ridiculous when you consider just around where I live, we have five schools with really quite young children. I don't believe there is any need to go at the kind of speeds drivers do.

"With a 20mph limit, it will really force people to think about their speed.

"I believe if the car that hit me had been going slower, it would have seen me and the accident might never have happened."

Abi Johnson, of Hurst Street, East Oxford, who has an 18-month-old son, Patrick, said: "I think it would be brilliant. It is terrifying how fast 30mph seems when you have a little child in your hand.

"In a city with narrow streets and quite a lot of heavily congested parking, 30mph is really dangerous."

Oxfordshire County Council revealed its plans in June, with a breakdown of the roads affected in July.

The first public meeting will be on Wednesday at John Bunyan Church Hall, Crowell Road, Cowley, at 7pm.

Further meetings will be on Tuesday, September 9, at St Matthew's Parish Centre, Marlborough Road, South Oxford, 5.30pm; September 16 at St Andrew's Primary School, London Road, Headington, 6pm; September 17 at Larkrise Primary School, Boundary Brook Road, 6.30pm; October 2 at North Oxford Community Association, Diamond Place, Summertown, 5pm; October 8, at County Hall, 6.30pm; and October 13 at Blackbird Leys Community Centre, 6pm.

People can also email their views about the plan to 20@oxfordshire.gov.uk or by post to Oxfordshire County Council, 20 Limit Consultation, Speedwell House, Speedwell Street, Freepost OF260, Oxford, OX1 1BR.

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