Issue - decisions

The Committee received a verbal update on the 20’s Plenty for Oxfordshire campaign from the Chair, Cllr Smith and Cllr Duncan.

The proposed outcome of the campaign was to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit across Oxfordshire on roads largely shared by cycles and cars – it would result in safer travel but also reduce emissions and improve air quality. So far introduction of 20mph limits had been piecemeal across towns and villages and had been mainly funded by parish and town Councils. Oxfordshire County Council, constrained by budgets had only offered limited support so far and might pay for some scoping and set up fees, but the majority of funds would need to be borne by the Town Council.

It was suggested the Town Council should write to the County Council, offering its support to the campaign and asking for consideration of 20mph limits included in the new east to west active travel corridor to be expanded.

Members agreed that information on costs for implementing a blanket 20mph scheme and details on speeding would be beneficial in progressing this issue if officers could source this information, any external assistance should also be utilised.

RESOLVED:

1.       That Witney Town Council supports the 20’s Plenty for Oxfordshire Campaign to reduce the speed limit to 20mph across Witney and Oxfordshire; and,

2.       Writes to Oxfordshire County Council as the Highways Authority in May 2020 to advise of its support and to ask that monitoring and review takes place on the 20mph schemes incorporated as part of the East to West Active Travel Corridor, adding further comments that additional areas should have been included in this scheme.