• PETER Hartley continues to say (Pedestrians first, July 7) that there is no alternative to pedestrianisation of Oxford Street in order to stop the deaths which occur there.

Every death is a tragedy but he does not have a monopoly on compassion and how can he be sure that there would not be as many deaths (or even more) in the roads which will carry traffic displaced from Oxford Street?

V Loesch (Save is from noise and pollution, July 7) pointed out that this traffic will not disappear from the centre of London. Indeed this could present as least as big a threat of accidents as is currently seen in Oxford Street.

It is surprising that Mr Hartley says “Residents don’t have to put up with the blight of so much traffic if they don’t want to.” How does he think residents can affect drivers who go around Oxford Street if they cannot go along it?

Traffic schemes to avoid rat-runs are, of course, necessary but displaced cars will have to go somewhere as will buses, taxis, delivery vehicles etc.

To accuse residents in the area of wanting to “claim some privileged position” is quite ridiculous. I do not live in the immediate area of Oxford Street but I have great sympathies for those who do.

Mr Hartley also trivialises the effect on my lifestyle of stopping buses at Marble Arch and starting them again at the top of Regent Street. I will not only have to shop elsewhere but will also have to find alternative places to eat and meet friends as well as changing my bank and building society which are currently reached by bus at or through Oxford Street.

I will also find it much more difficult to get to the theatre, exhibitions and cultural events as well as both Waterloo and Victoria train and coach stations which currently I access by bus through Oxford Street.

While only one person I am representative of thousands of people who will experience the same problems. Janet Donnelly in a recent letter (Ramifications of pedestrianisation would go much further than Oxford Street, June 30) outlined the many groups which will be affected so it is not just one person who will have major problems but thousands of people.

I wonder if the supporters of pedestrianising Oxford Street have read the press at the weekend which suggest that the air quality on the tube has been linked to Alzheimer’s, asthma, and lung disease?

If people who are unhappy with the air quality in Oxford Street switch to the tube they may be exposing themselves to health risks just as great.  Some of the benefits of pedestrianisation will be less compelling if these reports are accurate.

Improving the experience of using Oxford Street is to be welcomed but the mayor should not ignore or underestimate the problems it will cause for thousands of people.

All human life must be valued and supported but pedestrianising Oxford Street is not necessarily the right answer and certainly not the only one. The mayor should try to find alternatives which work better for everyone.

SUSAN KAYE
Grove End Road, NW8