New 20mph speed limits have been approved for 11 areas of Oxfordshire after the highways chief said someone had “abused their democratic right to respond” in providing feedback.

Ardley, Aston Tirrold, Baulking, Barford (St John & St Michael), Bix & Assendon, Black Bourton, Broadwell, Fringford, Garford, Hethe, and Kingston Blount will all be subject to the scheme following approval from cabinet member for transport Andrew Gant on Thursday (May 23) this week.

Villages like Garford gave strong support in the consultation for the scheme with one person simply stating “my cat got killed on the road” whereas there was a higher number of objections in places such as Shiplake.

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Mr Gant responded to a particular objection from one resident in Garford who said “like all of the other 20mph zones installed in Oxfordshire, this is an unnecessary waste of valuable taxpayers money which should be spent on projects to benefit communities”.

Oxford Mail: Garford.Garford. (Image: Google Maps.)

The highways chief said: “You have taken advantage of your democratic right to respond not by giving us useful insights into the place that you live and know but by simply abusing it and adding an objection to a number of these schemes without any evidence for doing so.”

Meanwhile, an objection from Broadwell resident Kev Ball was described by Mr Gant as a “clear point” and “very well-made”.

Mr Ball said he supported the principle behind the scheme but raised concerns about the speed limit in surrounding areas being too high.

Oxford Mail: Andrew Gant at the meeting.Andrew Gant at the meeting. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)

The council says it is rolling out 20mph areas as a replacement for 30mph areas where there is local support as part of its commitment to "the elimination of deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions".