PLANS to extend a 20mph zone and reduce parking spaces in Woodstock Road are set to be approved despite an Oxford college's fear it could cause an accident.

And police say it would place an 'unreasonable' demand on police to enforce it.

As part of the plan a coloured central reservation will be created in the middle of the road near Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, which St Anne's College said could lead to confusion.

Its statement said: "The northbound traffic will have to use the imprinted tarmac 'central reservation' to pass buses at the adjoining bus stop.

"Pedestrians will believe, by the nature of the coloured area that they are in some form of refuge.

"According to your plan this will not be the case and could lead to confusion and potentially an accident."

The college added the only thing to mitigate this was the 20mph speed limit.

But Thames Valley Police objected to the limit and said it was unenforceable.

It said: "If a speed limit is set too low and is ignored then this could result in the majority of drivers criminalising themselves and could bring the system of speed limits into disrepute.

"There should be no expectation that the police would be able to provide regular enforcement if a speed limit is set too low as this could result in an unreasonable additional demand on police resources."

Three parking spaced would be lost by Oxfordshire County Council's plan but council officers said 21 spaces were still available opposite St Anne's.

It could be approved on Thursday.