Source : Perth Now news
A stretch of Oxford Street will be pedestrianised from next month, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says.
Vehicles will be prohibited from accessing almost a kilometre between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street from October 26 and will instead be diverted onto nearby roads.
Oxford Street is one of the world’s busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day.
Khan said the changes come “just in time” for the Christmas shopping period.
“Following strong support from Londoners and businesses, I’m excited to see my bold vision for Oxford Street really coming to life next month as we start going traffic-free, just in time for the busy Christmas shopping period,” the mayor said.
“I encourage everyone to explore and enjoy our newly traffic-free Oxford Street, as we work to create a vibrant destination that welcomes Londoners and visitors alike.
“Revitalising Oxford Street will help to super-charge regeneration, boosting jobs and economic growth in the capital and beyond.”
He added the plans will help build a “greener, better, more prosperous London for everyone”.
But the deputy leader of Westminster City Council said Khan is “rushing preparations”.
Councillor Tim Barnes said: “While we finally now have a timetable for the proposed pedestrianisation, Westminster City Council, residents and businesses on Oxford Street still have a long list of unanswered questions about how it will work.
“If this is going to be the ‘greener, better and more prosperous’ success that the mayor has promised, then issues around access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety, need answers urgently.
“Traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby causing economic and environmental harm.”
Transport for London will work with the Oxford Street Development Corporation to clean and declutter the street and install new safety measures, with works beginning this week.
The pedestrianisation of this initial stretch forms the “first phase” of changes to Oxford Street, according to the mayor’s office.
The changes will be temporary so “real-time data” can be collected on how people use the space which will help inform the design of permanent improvements as part of plans to pedestrianise the rest of Oxford Street.
Two new public squares, more than 100 new seats, dining tables and over 50 new trees are expected to be in place by the end of spring next year.
