‘They didn’t have a contract with anyone to take care of the plants and didn’t do it themselves, so they have all been allowed to die’, says city councillor Tim Barnes

IT has been kicking about like a political football for over a decade, but Oxford Street pedestrianisation is finally happening at the end of the month.

Sir Sadiq, Lord Khan this week announced October 26 as the day traffic will be stopped between Oxford Circus and Selfridges, and took another swipe at Westminster City Council for failing to be “decent custodians” of the road.

A day later, questions were being asked why a series of planters on the street, which has been managed by the Mayor of London for more than a year, have been allowed to wither and die.

City cabinet member for growth and planning Timothy Barnes said: “We have had a lot of questions about why the plants on Oxford Street have been allowed to die. Taking care of them, mostly ensuring they are watered, was the job of Westminster City Council until a year ago.

“It was handed over to the mayor’s teams in line with other responsibilities. But they didn’t have a contract with anyone to take care of the plants and didn’t do it themselves, so they have all been allowed to die.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s a small issue.

“But it’s a very visible example of how not being ready can lead to things going wrong. Managing a space like Oxford Street requires hundreds of things to be provided for, from plant watering to street cleaning.

“If we are going to pedestrianise it, let’s take the time to get it right.

“At the moment it’s just being rushed. I am all for deadlines to get things to happen but false ones can lead to unnecessary problems and things going wrong. Like dead plants.”

Transport for London said that planting along Oxford Street had suffered due to “extreme heat”, like many other planting schemes across the capital.

A spokesperson for the transport authority said: “As part of the upcoming transformation, Oxford Street will benefit from improved public realm and new planting schemes that are more resilient in the face of extreme heat, such as what we’ve recently experienced.”

Lord Khan has had several public disputes with the city council about pedestrianisation since a former Conservative administration blocked his last attempt before a knife-edge council election in 2018.

This week the council said the mayor was “rushing preparations” and had questions to answer over “access, air pollution, street cleaning, and public safety”.

The local authority has been unable to halt the mayor’s plans despite concerns over “access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety.”

Mayor Lord Khan has confirmed that almost a one-kilometre stretch from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from October 26.