Oxford Street pedestrianisation on hold as local residents object

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Apr 30, 2018

The latest ambitious plan to pedestrianise London’s Oxford Street might not happen as the local authority, Westminster City Council, has rejected it and called it “unacceptable”.

Europe’s busiest shopping street has been the subject of many pedestrianisation initiatives over recent decades but the current plan - backed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, transport body TfL and local business group the New West End Company - had been hailed as one that could actually get through.

But the big problem is, where will the diverted traffic go? As Fashion Network reported when the plan was unveiled last autumn, despite having been closed to general traffic many years ago, Oxford Street is still jam-packed with buses and taxis for much of the day. These would have to be sent down adjoining streets, which are themselves already congested.

While a consultation saw the general public backing the plan, residents of the high-priced properties in Marylebone, Fitzrovia and Mayfair are concerned that diverted buses, cabs and delivery vehicles will add to day-long traffic jams and pollution near their homes.

Sadiq Khan wants to start pedestrianising Oxford Street later this year with an 800m section from Oxford Circus to beyond Selfridges earmarked for phase one.

But the Westminster City Council cabinet member responsible for the street has ordered a halt to work on the plan. Daniel Astaire said that despite backing from the mayor and TfL, the street “belongs to the council and the decision rests with us.” 

He added: “I have informed them - much to some surprise - that detailed work on a scheme is to be stopped. They had even wanted to appoint an artist to design street concept art, but I have stopped this too. At present there is no scheme nor a proposal which is acceptable to the council.” But he said the council would support a plan if it also won resident support.

Interestingly, the announcement of the pedestrianisation plan last autumn saw Khan standing side by side with Westminster deputy leader Robert Davis, which was another reason for thinking the move might get through this time as Westminster’s support was assumed to be in the bag. But the deputy leader has since stood down.

And an earlier report from TfL suggesting almost two-thirds of people supported the traffic ban didn’t include many resident views with a wrong email address later being cited as a reason for few residents’ views having been recorded.

Elections to the local authority this week are also complicating  the issue with the dominant Conservative Party group facing challenges from several anti-pedestrianisation campaigners. The Conservatives fear that a split vote could mean the Labour Party wining several seats and so they are keen to be seen addressing residents’ concerns.