On Thursday 23 April council members decided on three extensions of 20mph zones across the county.

The decisions will become effective at 5pm on April 28, unless called in

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The council has approved the decision to extend the existing 20mph speed limit on Old Road in Forest Hill.

Part of the road, which was previously 60mph, was approved to change into a 20mph zone as part of the countywide 20mph speed limit project

The council has also approved the decision to introduce a 20mph speed limit in Brightwell Baldwin as part of the Vision Zero project.

The Vision Zero project is in aid of the elimination of deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire, and communities are able to request the introduction of 20mph areas.

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In February 2022, Cabinet approved funding of up to £8,000,000 to deliver 20mph, meaning implementing schemes comes at no cost to town or parish councils.

The council also approved the extension of the existing 20mph speed limit on the south of Green Lane in Chesterton as part of the Vision Zero project.

This comes after Oxfordshire County Council revealed that 2024 saw an 11% increase in fatal and serious road casualties in comparison to 2023.

With  a total of 1068 casualties across the county in total.

The Government recently announced that it will make mobile phone bans in English schools statutory under new changes to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, turning existing non-statutory guidance into law.

Schools would be legally required to enforce the ban, although the majority already do so voluntarily.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We have been consistently clear that mobile phones have no place in schools, and the majority already prohibit them.

“This amendment makes existing guidance statutory, giving legal force to what schools are already doing in practice.”

On social media, the reaction has been mixed.

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Matthew Barber with students at Aureus Secondary School in Didcot at a meeting to discuss banning mobile phones in school (Image: Matthew Barber)

Andy Gardiner said: “General use of phones in school is a bad idea but specifically this is a pain, especially in science, when the kids can use phones as textbooks, reference sources, as timers, data loggers, audio sources and for motion capture, just as examples.

“Nope, science departments can’t afford to buy half this stuff as specialist equipment because budgets have been screwed down so tight but, just in case, we can ban kids from using theirs too.”

Phil Leighton supported the move, stating: “There’s bound to be some parents throwing their toys out of the pram over this but they are a distraction and not needed in school.

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“It’s about time.”

Others raised concerns about student safety and communication.

Tracey Matthews said: “I get it but don’t fully support it.

“My daughter let’s me know when she arrives safely at school then turns it off until after school when she rings to let me know she is on her way home”

Sherri Fox said: “Can’t even trust the teachers half the time.

“I’d like my child to have the option to call me, but I don’t think they should have them out of their pockets in lessons unless it’s an emergency situation.”

There was also debate about the educational value of mobile phones.

Rachel Ed said: “We should be teaching children how to use technology safely, and allowing them to benefit from it in their learning.

“The alternative is that schools provide class sets of devices with no social media apps to be used as learning tools.”

People have also been considering the negative impact of phones.

Logan Ramkin said: “Its been too long coming but a lot of kids disrupt classes and film it for likes, film bullying and a victim being assaulted for likes, and film teachers then use AI to post something about that teacher, and that’s actually been highlighted by teachers and the media.”

Patricia Grant added: “How’s that going to work then. their homework timetable, everything is on their phones.”