Banbury councillor fights for crossing where woman broke neck in collision
A Banbury councillor is fighting for safety improvements to a road where a woman suffered serious injuries in a collision.
Cllr Mark Cherry (Labour, Banbury Ruscote) is pushing Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) to go ahead with speed limit reductions and a crossing after Wendy Wilkinson sustained a broken neck and other injuries in the collision in Broughton Road nearly two years ago.
“Wendy Wilkinson had an accident on Broughton Road where a car hit her causing her to go to hospital. Among her injuries was a broken neck,” said Mr Cherry.
“She wanted to see road safety improvements in Broughton Road and collected 70 residents’ signatures on a petition calling for safety improvements including a lower speed limit and a pedestrian crossing. The petition was presented to then cabinet member for Highways in March.”
The Vision Zero road safety team at OCC said: “The Vision Zero programme for 2027/28 is currently being developed and we will be considering and prioritising measures, taking account of collision history and other data including speeds and also other planned schemes.
"Although it isn’t at present possible to comment in detail on any specific site, possible measures in Broughton Road are being reviewed.”
The Vision Zero funding allocation for 2026 – 27 has been allocated to other projects but measures on this part of Broughton Road will be considered for future funding.
The road is the main B4035 route from Banbury to Shipston on Stour and attracts a lot of heavy traffic, commuters and shoppers. It is also a road that sees many dog owners walking pets from the Bretch Hill area and Poet’s Corner estates out into the countryside.
The speed limit on this part of Broughton Road, near the junctions of Balmoral Avenue and Burns Road, is still 30mph. It becomes 20mph between the Woodgreen Avenue roundabout and onwards into Banbury town centre.
Mr Cherry said the safety improvements where the accident happened would require a public consultation.
“It is important to listen to the local community and I hope together with Oxfordshire County Council we can see safety improvements that improve crossing safety. We’ve seen one serious accident we don't want to see any more,” he said.