SPEED limits on many of Oxfordshire’s main roads could be cut, despite police objections.

Transport bosses are considering imposing slower limits on 49 stretches of 24 of the county’s A and B roads.

The move follows a year-long £20,000 review designed to improve road safety, and a decision on the move will be taken by transport chiefs Ian Hudspeth and Rodney Rose on Thursday.

The Government also ordered councils to conduct reviews in a bid to give consistency for drivers across the country, a county spokesman said.

However, Thames Valley Police has objected to more than half of the proposed cuts – 27 in total – arguing accident rates and vehicle speeds do not justify the reductions.

A council report shows police believe there would be “little or no compliance” from motorists if plans to cut the limit from 70mph to 50mph on a section of the A40 near Oxford’s Cutteslowe roundabout are introduced.

However, Summertown and Wolvercote councillor Jean Fooks said: “I’m sorry police, but I still think it’s still important to reduce speeds.

“This would certainly help make the road safer and reduce the noise impact from the road for local residents.”

Police have also objected to proposals to cut the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph on the B4022 between Charlbury and Hailey.

Paul Bennett launched a petition to cut the speed limit after his wife Linda became the eighth person to die on the road in a decade.

There was no suggestion speed was involved in Mrs Bennett’s death, but Mr Bennett said: “Setting limits too low can tempt people to overtake and I think there needs to be a more variable approach to limits. However, 60mph anywhere along that road is wrong.

“I think the speed should be cut to 40mph between Finstock and Charlbury.”

Mark McArthur-Christie, chairman of the Oxford group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, has criticised the County Hall plan.

He said: “If we ask people to drive substantially below the natural speed of the road, they invest more mental energy in compliance than driving safely.

“I hope we don’t see queues of frustrated drivers driving over the county, but that’s my experience on roads where the limits have already been cut to 50mph.”

Last year, the number of road deaths in Oxfordshire fell from 48 to 30, the lowest level since records began 35 years ago.

The council believes its review, which also recommends increasing speed limits on six stretches of road, will continue to make the county’s roads safer.

If approved, signage for new speed limits is expected to cost about £160,000, with the changes coming into force after March.

Five months ago, the council introduced 20mph speed limits on almost all Oxford’s residential roads, despite objections by police.

A police spokesman said: “The default speed limit for country roads remains 60mph and the public has an expectation that a lower limit is imposed for well-evidenced safety reasons.

“Where the criteria can’t be evidenced to be met, then the default limit should be maintained.”

Council spokesman Owen Morton said the council was aware of the police objections, which he said would be considered by councillors.