Residents are being urged to have their say on the introduction of new 20mph speed limits in Bicester.
The county council, the highways authority, has said it will not impose lower limits where they are not welcomed by the community.
The council has been running a consultation on the introduction of new 20mph limits in the town.
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The consultation ends next week on February 28 and people are now being urged to have their say.
They are being asked to look at the draft plans for the town and fill in a survey by 5pm on that day.
The county council website says: "For Bicester, local county and town councillors have indicated that they support the idea of 20mph limits in principle - but only where they have the support of the community.
"Speed limit changes must go through a statutory consultation process in which all responses are considered by the county council’s cabinet member for transport management before he makes his final decision."
To have your say on the 20mph issue see the following web link: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/bicester_informal_20mph2023
Town councillor Nick Mawer urged as many people as possible to respond to the consultation.
"If new 20mph limits are introduced the decision should be evidence-based, with accident statistics bearing out the need to reduce the limit.
"Everyone should respond and have their say - this is our chance to have our say on this and if we don't we can't complain afterwards."
Mr Mawer said earlier he welcomed the introduction of 20mph limits outside schools and on housing estates.
But he did not welcome a blanket imposition of 20mph limits 'on an ideological basis'.
He said he had experience of new 20mph limits upsetting residents in Wales.
Town councillor Donna Ford said earlier: "It’s imperative that limits are only installed where a desire is reflected in the consultation results.
"I support community-led decision making, which is why I’ve worked hard to get an informal consultation before the official plans are drawn up for formal consultation and am trying to reach as many people as possible to get the whole town's thoughts."
Earlier this month headteacher at the Cooper School, Robert Whannel, backed calls to introduce a 20mph speed limit outside his school.
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He said: “At The Cooper School, we take the safety of our children and staff extremely seriously and so we are pleased to hear of the proposals to reduce the speed limit to 20mph in the area outside of our school.
“We feel it will make the journey to and from school safer for all members of our community.”
There has been a countywide initiative to change the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in areas where there is local support.
The consultation results will be assessed by the county council to refine proposals for the potential scheme later this year.
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About the author
Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
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