Proposed Traffic Regulation Order: Oxford Road, Donnington: 30mph speed limit (Ref: SLR2401)

Background

The speed at which traffic moves on our roads is one of the main factors in fatal incidents, and West Berkshire Council has a responsibility to make sure our roads are safe. We work with the police and local parish and town councils to introduce measures to help keep speeds within safe limits.

A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is a legal document that must be made by the Local Authority under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in order to regulate or restrict the public highway in any way. A TRO can restrict the use of the public highway in many ways, either permanently, experimentally or temporarily. The most common ways are:

• closing the road
• speed restrictions
• weight/width/height restrictions
• prohibiting certain movements
• restricting parking in some way  

This speed reduction was put forward by Ward Members on behalf of residents in 2024. The Speed Limit Review panel reviewed this request and concluded that this proposal should progress to the next stage of approval. This speed limit proposal was then approved through Individual Executive Member Decision as part of the Network Management Minor Works Programme in April 2025 to be taken forward for public consultation in 2025/26.  

To find out more information on how speed limits are set on local roads, please visit our webpage.

What we are proposing

West Berkshire District Council proposes to make an Order under Sections 84(1) and (2) and of Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which is to extend the 30mph speed limit on Oxford Road in Donnington northwards from its junction with The Chase to its junction with Shawdene. The proposed order will also revoke the redundant Royal County of Berkshire (Oxford Road, Donnington) (speed limit) Order 1995 in its entirety and where that 1995 order includes restrictions on roads (or sections of roads) not affected by these changes, these roads shall be incorporated into the proposed new order.

The proposed order relates to a section of road which comprises residential and hotel development on one side, a narrow footpath on the other and has no streetlights. It is therefore considered necessary to lower the speed limit on this 450m section of road from 40mph to 30mph to reduce the risk of danger to highway users and facilitate the passage of pedestrians along this route. In addition, the proposed order will also provide a consistent method of speed management along this route by revoking the current 40mph speed limit.

You can also view and/or download the draft order, revoked order, statement of reasons, public notice of the proposal, and a plan of the affected area through the links below:

• Draft Order [487KB]
• Revoked order (1995) [133KB]
• Statement of Reasons [395KB]
• Public Notice [516KB]
• Plan of the proposal [216KB]

Why we want your views

We'd like to know whether you'd like to express your support, record a neutral position or lodge an objection to the proposal to extend the 30mph speed limit on Oxford Road in Donnington northwards from its junction with The Chase to its junction with Shawdene.

How to take part

Copies of the draft order, revoked order, statement of reasons, plan of the proposal and public notice can be viewed on this page or inspected during the hours of 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, at main reception on the ground floor of West Berkshire Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5LD.

If you'd like to comment on the proposal, please complete our survey by midnight on Wednesday, 3 September 2025. It should take about five minutes.

Complete our survey

You may also comment by email to Trafficandroadsafety@westberks.gov.uk or in writing to the Traffic and Road Safety Team, West Berkshire Council, Market Street Offices, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5LD.

Please quote the reference number: SLR2401. All responses must reach the Transport and Road Traffic Team by Wednesday, 3 September 2025 if they are to be considered.

Any personal information you choose to provide will be kept confidential and used in accordance with our privacy notice.

If you have any questions about this TRO, please contact the Transport and Road Traffic Team .

For general information about Traffic Management and Road Safety on our website here.

What happens next

All comments and objections we receive will be taken into account, and a report submitted in October 2025 for consideration by Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Portfolio Holder for Environment and Highways, who will decide how to proceed.

If the decision is to approve the proposal, the change will be implemented as soon as our Highway Contractor is able to programme the works. 

After the consultation has closed, if the decision is made to introduce the new speed limits, all objectors who have requested feedback will be informed accordingly.

We aim to publish on this page a summary of the responses we received, and the decision taken, within three months of the consultation closing.