The future of Oxford Street: Power, politics and pedestrians

"Half a million visitors pound its pavement every day - but it has seen better times. It has poor air quality and a high number of collisions. Buses and taxis run right through the middle of the shopping area. Research indicates it performs worse, in terms of customer spending, than other areas nearby. Businesses there and the mayor of London think the solution is pedestrianisation - and a recent consultation suggested nearly two-thirds of respondents supported the idea."

""I was in two minds about it. I thought initially 'where will all the buses go?' But it looks like many of the bus routes have been phased away from Oxford Street anyway. 'And look at other parts of the country - if you go to Birmingham with New Street, Glasgow with Buchanan Street, Manchester Market Street, Liverpool with Church Street - all of them are pedestrianised streets. 'London is the odd one out with its main shopping street open to traffic. Why should London be different? Why should we have this chaotic shopping environment?'""

"The idea has been around for decades. Many local residents do not want it. The displacement of traffic is a concern, in particular the 35 buses per hour - in each direction - that use the street. An added complication is that the street is also on a political boundary between the councils which control it, Camden and Westminster, and the electoral wards surrounding it are marginals. There are also others with an interest: Business Improvement Districts; Transport for London, which operates the red route in the road; landowners, and vocal and engaged community groups."

Oxford Street will be closed to traffic this weekend for a car-free day. Half a million visitors use its pavements daily, yet the street suffers poor air quality, a high number of collisions and poorer customer spending than nearby areas. Buses and taxis currently run through the shopping area, with about 35 buses per hour in each direction. Businesses and the mayor support pedestrianisation, and a recent consultation showed nearly two-thirds support. Many local residents oppose pedestrianisation because of traffic displacement. The street sits on a political boundary between Camden and Westminster, involving multiple stakeholders and marginal electoral wards.

Read at www.bbc.com