Zein Noureddine, retail

AS council election polls closed, voters eagerly awaited the outcome, with the Westminster borough result hanging in the balance.

Unlike a majority of local authorities set to count votes in the daytime, the City of Westminster started from the moment the polls closed at 10pm.

As we went to press, the full list of the results was expected at about 4.30am today, Friday, so they will be posted later on the Westminster Extra website.

Katie Simpson, safety

In the meantime here is the result of the Local Democracy Reporting Service’s last-minute snap poll of residents’ views.

One key issue in the West End ward was the Labour Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan’s part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street.

Peter Miller, 76, said he was concerned about the pedestrianisation plan. Living in Fitzrovia, he said he feared the traffic in the area was going “to be so considerably busy, and especially late at night”. Delivery lorries needed to come between midnight and seven, he said, “which I think is going to cause a bit of a nightmare in the area”.

Maria Ramallio, expense

Carol Ridness, based between Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale, also noted transport and Oxford Street plans as of concern. “Nearing 90”, she felt there was a “bleed-the-motorist” approach from local government. “They ask your opinions and then they totally ignore them,” she said. “And all at an expense that we don’t need.”

Maria Ramallio, 78, from Pimlico South, was worried about drug dealing in her area. She said police “don’t do anything” to stop the buying and selling of drugs near her home. She was also worried about the rising cost ofliving. Her bills had “shot up” leaving her “anxious and worried”.

Peter Miller, traffic

Zein Noureddine, 60, who manages a shop in the Pimlico South ward, said: “We need some people who will look after the area. The local government doesn’t look after us, they don’t look after the shops.”

Katie Simpson, 77, also in Pimlico South, said: “The kids are right in front of my door. I have CCTV, which I had to put in. So I feel a bit safer, but I have a shared garden.”