A 20mph speed limit is being introduced on a section of the Banbury Road as part of a £1.1m scheme to improve road safety in Summertown.

Measures to cut accidents in the busy shopping area were proposed in a transport package which won county council approval yesterday Summertown was identified as a priority area for improvements because of a long-running series of transport problems Consultants undertook a study reviewing pedestrian, cycle and bus facilities in the shopping area, with a public consultation carried out over the winter.

The introduction of a 20mph speed limit from Lonsdale Road to Diamond Place, including the eastern side roads of Mayfield Road, Summerfield Road and Diamond Place was approved by cabinet member for transport, David Robertson, yesterday as an integral part of the scheme.

Within the 20mph zone there are plans to change the road surface in a bid to alter driver behaviour when passing through Summertown.

There are also proposals to create bus lay-bys to help buses pull into flowing traffic, and new bus stop facilities.

An additional pedestrian crossing is proposed in the shopping centre along with new cycle parking.

But the creation of a south bus lay-by will require the acquisition of private land on the east side of Summertown, possibly with the use of a compulsory purchase order.

An alternative Summertown transport scheme by local businessman Sidney Denton was earlier submitted to the county council. His proposals to relocate existing pelican crossings and bus lanes were ruled not to be in line with County Hall policy and guidelines.