The Mayor of London has confirmed that Oxford Street will be pedestrianised from October 26, with Sir Sadiq Khan criticising Westminster City Council (WCC) for failing to be "decent custodians" of the historic thoroughfare. The announcement, made by City Hall, will see almost a one-kilometre stretch from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street closed to vehicle traffic, marking the start of a transformative project that has been the subject of intense political conflict.
Westminster City Council immediately criticised the announcement, accusing the Mayor of "rushing preparations" and raising concerns over "access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety." The council's deputy leader, Cllr Tim Barnes, said residents and businesses still had a "long list of unanswered questions" about how the scheme would operate.
Mayor's response to council criticism
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Sir Sadiq Khan said: "We're seeing a Conservative Westminster Council being opposed to revitalising and reenergising this great street. I'm somebody who's worked really closely with the businesses out there, and despite their knee jerk opposition with the council where possible, and I think on October 26, when it's traffic free, that'll begin the real transformation of the nation's high street. And because that council has failed to be decent custodians of our street, I'll be a good custodian."
The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been a long-standing point of contention between the Mayor and the Conservative administration at Westminster City Council. When the borough changed hands in May following local elections, the new Leader, Cllr Paul Swaddle, promised to legally challenge the Mayor over his plans, but these attempts have not prevented the scheme from proceeding.
Council's concerns and questions
Cllr Tim Barnes, Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council and Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, told the LDRS: "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. Right now there's a danger that we will have all of the downsides and too little upside. Traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby causing economic and environmental harm. We are writing to the Oxford Street Development Corporation with our serious concerns now it is obvious the Mayor is rushing preparations with little time left."
The council has previously compared the scheme to the budget online marketplace Temu, reflecting their scepticism about the project's potential benefits. Despite the opposition, the Mayor has pressed ahead, arguing that pedestrianisation is essential to combat decades of "managed decline" on the street.
Mayor's vision for the future
Speaking at the Politico Pub at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Sir Sadiq said: "I've tried for some time to try and reinvigorate, reenergise Oxford Street. One way is pedestrianisation. From October 26, we'll then spend some time trying to turn it into a really lovely street, which will lead to more retail, more leisure. More visitors, more tourism. We've seen, as a consequence of managed decline, all sorts of shop closing - our nation's high street shouldn't be there. What we've seen since I made my announcement about pedestrianising this street is a massive increase of interest, with good quality retail coming to Oxford Street."
The Mayor believes the project will help the West End compete better with Paris and New York as a world-class destination, a key part of his vision for London's economic recovery.
Concerns for disabled Londoners
Veteran Tory Assembly Member Andrew Boff also voiced concerns, telling the LDRS: "As we have seen in the past with the Oxford Street pedestrianisation, the Mayor has failed to meaningfully consult stakeholders who are adversely affected by his plans, chiefly disabled Londoners. To push ahead with these plans without the appropriate support, and with the intention of getting feedback after the fact that these stakeholders will be disadvantaged, is the wrong direction to be moving in. I encourage the Mayor to get this right before he proceeds, rather than to just push ahead and hope to fix problems after harm has been done."
With the date now set, the focus turns to implementation, as the Mayor's office and the Oxford Street Development Corporation prepare for the October 26 change, while Westminster Council and disability groups continue to demand answers on key operational details.
