OXFORDSHIRE County Council is to review a road speed limit after a campaign by residents.

They want the limit in Mably Way, Grove, cut from 40mph to 30mph after a series of accidents.

In January last year, Betty Ashley, 85, of Courtenay Road, Wantage, was killed after a collision with a car at a pelican crossing.

Twelve months later, a young woman was involved in a collision with a car outside Mably Way Health Centre.

It was only through the quick intervention of Dr Phillip Ambler from the centre that the woman, who suffered life-threatening injuries, survived.

Dr Ambler said he was delighted at the county’s decision.

He said: “We have tried to get the limit reduced before but the council didn’t take notice, so this is excellent news.

“Both the women were patients of my surgery, and there are vulnerable people on that road so it seems ridiculous for it to be 40mph.

“Statistics show that if a pedestrian is hit at 30mph they have a much higher chance of surviving than if they’re hit at 40mph.”

A petition signed by almost 2,000 residents in Grove, Wantage and the surrounding area was handed in to the county’s transport decisions committee earlier this month.

Grove resident Julie Farmer said: “The recent accidents were horrifying and there’s been too many near misses. Just recently a car of youngsters overturned into a ditch.

“The drivers go screeching past and go flying up the road.

“I take my granddaughter in the pushchair over the crossing and if the limit is reduced I will feel a lot safer.”

Resident Nicola Moody said: “You can hear people driving along doing well over 40mph.

“It’s a very straight road and I think people don’t realise how fast they’re going. It’s particularly dangerous with vulnerable people using the crossing for the health centre.”

Grove county councillor Zoe Patrick said: “New legislation states that health centres should not be built unless there is a 30mph limit imposed. The time has come to impose one on this road before there are any further casualties.”

The county council is now carrying out consultation.

Rodney Rose, cabinet member for transport, said: “Towns and villages grow and change, and what might have been a sensible speed limit to set down five or 10 years ago may no longer be appropriate.”