THE first 20mph signs have been put up in North and West Oxford ahead of the start of a controversial scheme which will see speed limits lowered on vast swathes of the city’s roads.

Oxfordshire County Council engineers yesterday began work on the £300,000 plan, which will see 1,900 new 20mph signs put up on residential roads over the next two weeks. Nick Franklin, left, and Matt Birtles are pictured putting up the signs in the side streets off Botley Road.

The slower speed limits have been welcomed by dozens of road safety campaigners.

However, two city driving instructors criticised the scheme and warned it could compromise road safety by causing drivers to focus too much on their speedometer rather than the road conditions.

About 200 of the signs were installed yesterday, but the new limits do not come into effect until Tuesday, September 1.