Residents of South Hinksey are being asked for their views on plans to extend the village's existing 20mph speed limit. Oxfordshire County Council has launched a public consultation focused on making roads safer by lowering vehicle speeds on a specific stretch.
What is the council proposing?
The proposed change would lengthen the current 20mph zone in South Hinksey. The extension would cover the road section between the junction with St Lawrence Road and the junction with Manor Road. This area was first given a 20mph limit in 2023, and the new plan is part of a broader effort to roll out lower speed limits across Oxfordshire.
According to the council, the primary goal is improving road safety. The scheme aims to reduce vehicle speeds, which in turn should lead to fewer collisions and less severe injuries when accidents do occur. Officials also hope it will make walking and cycling more attractive for short journeys, offering a viable alternative to using the car.
Part of a wider safety strategy
This proposal is not an isolated measure. It falls under the council's ambitious 'Vision Zero' commitment, which has the target of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries on the county's roads by the year 2050. The approach to implementing 20mph limits is flexible, ranging from simple changes like new signage to more engineered solutions, depending on what is needed in each location.
The council has also dedicated funding to assist communities that support the introduction of 20mph limits. This policy appears popular in many areas, with the authority confirming that more than 200 requests for 20mph schemes had been approved across Oxfordshire by September 2024.
How to have your say
Local people who want to influence the decision can participate in the consultation online through the Let's Talk Oxfordshire website. Details of any public meetings related to the proposal can be found on the Oxfordshire County Council's own site. The council uses this platform to post regular updates on the progress and status of all its 20mph projects.
While the authority presents this move as a positive step towards creating safer streets, it has emphasised that no final decision will be made until after the consultation responses have been reviewed. The outcome will depend on public feedback and the council's formal decision-making process.
