Campaign to bring in 30mph traffic limit on hectic Abingdon roads

A CONCERNED parent has launched a campaign to curb the speed of traffic through overcrowded roads in Abingdon from 40mph to 30mph ahead of hundreds of new houses being built.

When outline planning permission was granted for more than 1,000 homes to be erected as part of a major estate in North Abingdon, Oxfordshire County Council did not press for speed limit to be lowered as part of the plan.

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats are now backing local resident Dr Nathan Ley who is spearheading the initiative to get the county council to think again and reduce the limit to 30mph for North Abingdon.

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The new development will include a new primary school, two community buildings, local shops, a care home, play parks and other community facilities that will be used by existing and new residents.

Dr Ley, who lives with his young family off Dunmore Road, said: “The large housing developments will change the nature of our part of town, Dunmore Road will see more pedestrians and cyclists transiting across it every day.

“With this comes a need to factor in road safety considerations before the new houses are occupied.

“Residents in existing neighbouring side streets could also see an improvement in air quality, noise pollution, as well as gain access more easily.

“At times when the A34 is closed and Dunmore road is used as a substitute A-road, quality of life in the area can deteriorate hugely under the strain of fast-moving HGVs.”

Emily Smith, county councillor for the Abingdon North Division advocated for a change to the Wootton Road roundabout layout which is now being worked on by the developers of the 200 homes to the east of Tilsley Park.

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She said: “Getting quality highways infrastructure that works for all road users ahead of this development has been a real challenge.

“This part of North Abingdon is already a key route to school for hundreds of children and we want to encourage more people to walk and cycle to work and school from Wootton, Sunningwell and within Abingdon.

“If there is infrastructure in place and people feel safe they will walk their kids to school or the park and the new housing offers an opportunity to rethink how people move around this area.”