Oxfordshire’s transportation leader has responded to Thames Valley Police after giving approval for what he described as the final element of the legal framework needed to implement the county’s inaugural quiet lane initiative.
The speed limit on Shepards Pit Lane in Stanton St John will be reduced from 60mph to 20mph following the decision made on Thursday, September 3, despite the force describing the approach as inappropriate.
A council representative indicated that the modifications form part of broader traffic management proposals linked to the quiet lane concept.
The alteration represents the initial phase of a ten-location trial scheme.
The initiative, which extends beyond official Government recommendations for quiet lanes by incorporating physical barriers such as bollards to limit vehicle access where alternative routes exist, has been referred to as rural low traffic neighbourhoods and has generated divided responses.
The experimental orders are scheduled to be implemented across ten sites, with Stanton St John designated as the first location following years of planning and consultation.
Speed limit alterations fall outside the scope of traffic orders, necessitating the separate approval process for the 20mph restriction.
The remaining quiet lane locations have not yet been formally announced.
Proposed sites include roads in Blackthorn Village, Fawler, Towersey, Goring, Kennington, and Aston Rowant, though certain routes have been withdrawn from consideration due to community opposition.
County transport chief Gareth Epps stated that public backing exists for both the speed restriction and quiet lane designation on Shepards Pit Lane.
Epps expressed that the police response could not be disregarded without comment.
He indicated astonishment that a public authority such as the police would characterise a proposal as inappropriate without providing substantive justification.
A formal letter will be sent to the force to seek clarification on their position.
Epps questioned whether the objection represented the official stance of the constabulary and suggested that a more constructive manner of communicating concerns would be preferable, particularly given ongoing collaboration between the force and council on road safety matters.
Thames Valley Police have previously voiced reservations regarding the countywide implementation of 20mph speed limits, citing concerns about enforceability, constrained staffing capacity, potential for disproportionate criminalisation, and the possibility that impractical limits might be disregarded, thereby undermining road safety objectives.
County council director of environment and highways Paul Fermer acknowledged that the authority is operating beyond national guidance parameters.
Fermer characterised the police remarks as unusual, noting the apparent contradiction given the force’s previous commitment to enforcing 20mph restrictions.
In a council submission, an officer addressed the force’s objections by stating that the authority’s transportation strategy articulates a clear vision and set of policies aimed at enhancing road safety while accommodating the requirements of all users of the transport network.