CALLS have been made to reduce the speed limit on one of Oxfordshire’s deadliest roads.

Eight people have died on the 60mph B4022 in West Oxfordshire in the last decade – the joint highest number of road deaths in the county since 1999*.

Residents said motorists regulary speed along the road from Witney to Charlbury and Fawler Road.

Last night they renewed calls for Oxfordshire County Council to reduce the speed limit on a stretch of the road to 40mph.

The council will consider the idea on Thursday, January 7.

Barry Shelton, manager of the Bird in Hand, in Whiteoak Green, said: “The problem is not getting better, it’s getting worse – cars get faster as the years go by.

“It’s inevitable there will be another fatal accident. It’s going to happen again because of the speed that people travel along that stretch of road at.”

The fatalities have all taken place south of Finstock and north of Witney and residents want to see the speed restriction come into force between Hailey and Finstock, starting 230 metres south west of the Finstock High Street and finishing 141 metres north west of Priest Hill Lane in Hailey.

Mr Shelton added: “I would like to see the speed limit come down for the safety aspect of my guests leaving and entering.

“We are also concerned for the people who live locally, in particular people waiting for buses and walking to the bus stop.

“People who come to the Cotswolds on holiday come here specifically for the walking. They ask us where they can walk and I usually say don’t walk around here.

“I think a lower speed limit would remind people of their duty to other road users, pedestrians and riders.”

Andy Smith, vice chairman of Hailey Parish Council and chairman of Witney’s Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG), said: “There are more cars on the road and it’s going to keep getting worse.

“We have buses stopping around the corner and we have no pavement. We’ve got big dips and blind corners. There is a lot of public concern.”

The parish council requested a 40mph limit after the county council asked for suggestions for speed limit changes on Oxfordshire’s roads. More than a dozen residents wrote in support of the proposal.

County Hall spokesman Paul Smith said: “Towns and villages grow and change and what might have been a sensible speed limit to set down five or 10 years ago may no longer be appropriate.

“It is common sense to periodically review these speed limits.”

Speed has not been named as a direct factor in any of the deaths on the road, and county councillor David Harvey said: “We need expert advice to suggest what the reasons are for the serious accidents that have occurred there.

“Speed itself is not necessarily a killer, it’s inappropriate speed that causes accidents.”