A vision of the pedestrianisation plan for Oxford Street, from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street

RESIDENTS have warned of “chaos” if Sir Sadiq Khan’s traffic diversion plans in Oxford Street go ahead after a new consultation was launched this week.

The Marylebone Association said the latest plan would be “dangerous, unworkable and catastrophic for the surrounding neighbourhoods”.

The Mayor of London and Transport for London on Friday outlined detailed proposals for transport and highway changes to aid pedestrianisation of the famous street, in a new consultation which will run until January 16.

The new design includes closing Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street to private vehicles, buses, taxis and private hire vehicles as well as cycles, scooters and pedicabs.

Emergency services would still have access to the street at any time.

The proposal includes:
— allowing service and delivery vehicles to access the street between midnight and 7am;
— installing new and wider pedestrians crossings;
— rerouting buses serving Oxford Street along Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place;
— increased journey times which have been calculated to be “less than a minute”, according to City Hall;
— new bus stops, taxi ranks and drop-off spots;
— possibly increasing blue-badge parking bays in the area; and
— new cycle routes.

The Marylebone Association says closing the half-mile long east-west artery will force traffic into surrounding neighbourhoods like Marylebone, Mayfair, Fitzrovia and Soho. “Oxford Street may be car-free, its neighbours will not be,” the association said.

It said: “Despite half a century of failed pedestrianisation proposals, the mayor is pressing ahead once again, this time through a new Mayoral Development Corporation, removing Westminster Council’s democratic oversight. Residents say the scheme solves nothing and creates new risks on an unprecedented scale.”

The group said also the proposed scheme breaks up reliance upon bus routes and will force the elderly, disabled, low-income workers, and carers to walk 200 to 400 metres to new diverted stops and make additional interchanges.

They warned it could lead to more street crime and rough sleeping.

A spokesperson for the group said: “This is not regeneration, it is vandalism. It takes a functioning street and breaks the neighbourhoods around it.

“The mayor is selling a fantasy while ignoring the real-world consequences for residents, workers, businesses, and vulnerable Londoners.”

Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said “urgent action” is needed to give the nation’s most famous high street a new lease of life. A reimagined Oxford Street can bring the world to London and showcase the best of London to the world, and I’m pleased that we’re now moving ahead with our exciting plans to regenerate this iconic area, backed by the vast majority of Londoners and businesses.

“These new proposals map out the potential next steps with Transport for London to make our vision of a thriving, greener Oxford Street a reality.”

The plans rely on the mayor establishing a new MDC to gain control of the area and developing his plans.

The plans so far have the backing of the government and the London Assembly.

The consultation is separate from a previous one that ended in June which saw 66 per cent of Londoners back proposals to regenerate and pedestrianise Oxford Street.

Chief operating officer at TfL, Claire Mann, said: “Oxford Street is an iconic location and these proposals would see the key section from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street pedestrianised, creating a safer and more pleasant overall experience when shopping, dining or simply exploring the area.”

For more detail see: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/oxford-street-transport-highways