Give us 20mph limits like Oxford (From Oxford Mail)
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Give us 20mph limits like Oxford
4:43pm Wednesday 3rd June 2009 in News By Chris Walker
Brigitte Hickman and Teresa Arnold are setting up a pedestrians’ association in Witney Buy this photo »
CAMPAIGNERS are fighting to improve road safety and bring in a 20mph speed limit in Witney.
Concerned pedestrianswant to follow in the footsteps of the Oxford Pedestrians Association, which two months ago won its fight for 20mph speed limits on most roads in the city following a long campaign.
The county council had proposed reducing speed limits for residential roads in Witney in 2003, in a revision of the the town’s Integrated Transport Strategy.
But a cut in Government funding led to the idea being scrapped.
Now residents want to revive the scheme. A Witney Pedestrians’ Association is being set up, with a public meeting being held at the Corn Exchange, Witney, at 7pm on Saturday.
Brigitte Hickman, 43, of Farmers Close, Witney said: “Pedestrians are the biggest group of people and they have been instrumental in getting 20mph in Oxford.
“It would be nice if that group of people could get it into Witney – the town is chock-a-block with cars.
“It’s a very beautiful town but there’s a constant stream of traffic right through the middle of it. “We want to take back the public realm for people to walk in it.
“A 20 speed limit raises drivers awareness that a place is a living, breathing town with pedestrians.”
County council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: "The council wants to evaluate the 20mph Oxford scheme before considering rolling out 20mph in other areas."
cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk Anyone interested in joining Witney Pedestrians’ Association should mail brigitte@ supershed.org.uk
Comments(11)
DanOxford
says...
6:44pm Wed 3 Jun 09
From memory, in the relatively short main route through the middle of Witney between the mini roundabout at the buttercross to the one at the bottom of Bridge Street, Witney has two further mini roundabouts, a traffic light controlled junction, two pelican crossings, a sprinkling of central islands and at least one large raised 'traffic calming' area.
There are double parked cars along almost the entire length and even in the 1980s I didn't see any of the XR3i's and hot hatches Witney was famous for gathering any real 'speed'.
The single issue hand ringers are bad enough in the People's Republic of Oxford- you would have thought the residents of Witney would display a modicum more sense.
DanOxford
says...
6:47pm Wed 3 Jun 09
Lovebike
says...
9:30pm Wed 3 Jun 09
Make it 15 for DanOxford though.
DanOxford
says...
10:30pm Wed 3 Jun 09
They vote Conservative and rightly view flapjack juggling cyclists in llama herder hats and ill-fitting 'ethnic' clothing as odd city folk up to no good.
The fear of their arrival is why many market towns still retain their stocks and pillories...
Fat boy
says...
8:13am Thu 4 Jun 09
We could of course go the whole hog and insist on a man with a red flag walking in front of every car. That would cure the unemployment problems and cut the traffic speed in one fell swoop.
nickwilcock
says...
2:44pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Leave it alone; there's nothing broken to fix!
Anyway, 20 mph is rarely achieved on most trips through the town - and is impossible in virtually all residential areas.
We do NOT want yet another forest of road signs in our town as would be needed should this stupid proposal ever be adopted.
sexybabe33
says...
3:13pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Old zimner
says...
6:42pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Old zimner
says...
6:48pm Thu 4 Jun 09
“It would be nice if that group of people could get it into Witney – the town is chock-a-block with cars.
“It’s a very beautiful town but there’s a constant stream of traffic right through the middle of it. “We want to take back the public realm for people to walk in it.
Says Brigitte. Well are you stupid or what. If cars travel at 20 or 30 MPH the town will be as chocked as ever. Come up with a proper arguement love
HughdeGree
says...
12:36am Fri 5 Jun 09
William Bonnie says...
4:53pm Wed 3 Jun 09
Your article talks a lot about bureaucratic authoritarianism (a 20 mph speed limit) but doesn't tell us anything about how "campaigners" plan to improve road safety.
Perhaps they could improve everyone else's lives by getting a life of their own.