New measures to slow down traffic will come to an Oxfordshire village following reports "most cars do 40" in the 20mph zone.
Judy Roberts, cabinet member for infrastructure and development, approved the traffic calming proposals for South Leigh near Witney in a county council meeting on Thursday (July 18) last week.
Gateway and chicane features, speed limit signage and speed indicators are among the new measures that will come to Chapel Road and Station Road in the village.
20mph. (Image: Other.)
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Liberal Democrat councillor for Eynsham, Dan Levy, said the scheme was driven by two things which were "trying to get 20mph actually followed" and to prevent rat-running when the new Shores Green junction was built.
A representative from South Leigh parish council, Dick Pears, also spoke out at the meeting to say the parish authority was fully behind the county on the proposals.
He added: "The reality of the situation is a lot of work was done in relation to this.
The planned changes. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)
"Dan Levy helped us very much in the initial stages to realise something had gone dramatically wrong and his intervention calls again for change.
"Like all schemes there are objections – some of them very sensible, some of them perhaps less sensible."
Mr Pears said the "alternative" was speed bumps which would not be as effective in tackling the issue.
Before approving the officers' recommendation, Ms Roberts said: "I don’t like speed bumps. I’ve had a few in my area and all the people who live next to them complain."
Judy Roberts approved the traffic calming measures for South Leigh. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)
The approval comes following a formal consultation between April 3 and May 3 this year.
A total of 53 responses were received during the course of the formal consultation, comprising of 18 in support (34 per cent), 12 partially supporting (23 per cent), nine non-objections (17 pre cent), 13 objections (25 per cent) and one raising concerns.
One Station Road householder, who has not been named, offered partial support for the plan.
They said: " I support anything that may slow cars down as they travel through the village.
"I’m certain most cars do over 40 in the 20mph zone.
Dan Levy had spoken out at the meeting. (Image: West Oxfordshire District Council.)
"We need something that will make cars slow down completely, either a speed hump or a working speed camera.
"We like the efforts of something being put in place, but we don’t feel it will make much difference."
A few objectors to the scheme called it "unnecessary" and said they did not like the "street furniture in rural areas".
Objecting to the proposal, another anonymous Station Road householder said: "I'm not aware of any actual accidents in the village involving vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians in the 18 years I've been here, so we can't say South Leigh is an accident black-spot.
Station Road in South Leigh. (Image: Google Maps.)
"We can say, however, like any other roads in the UK that motorists don't obey speed limits, and chicanes won't change that.
"We will simply be adding additional clutter and signage in the village.
"Cars will simply accelerate within seconds to their 'normal' speed between chicanes."
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About the author
Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county.
She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.
Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi
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