The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street will help rid the world famous shopping road of “dross” American-style candy stores, the Mayor of London has said.
After decades of proposals, abandoned schemes and political wrangling, almost a kilometre of London’s premier shopping district became traffic-free from today (Monday, October 26).
The stretch between Orchard Street, near Selfridges, and Great Portland Street, just east of Oxford Circus, is closed to vehicles.
Buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, bicycles, scooters and pedicabs are now being diverted.
Lord Sadiq Khan on the new-look Oxford Street on Monday morning
The Standard
However, Westminster council has warned traffic will be pushed onto smaller surrounding side roads.
But Lord Khan told the Standard: “For too long we’ve had years and years of decline.
“These great shops struggling because of a lack of investment, people shopping online, people going to out of town centre shopping malls, the pandemic has really changed things.
“I want to be supporting these flagship stores.”
Traffic is banned from a 1km stretch of the street from today
The Standard
The closure marks the beginning of a phased transformation rather than the finished version of the new Oxford Street.
Lord Khan said: “Monday is the first phase.
“In advance of Christmas we’ll do very little work because we want that space to be used by people, by shoppers.
“Early next year we’ll have more seats, more trees, public spaces.
Preparations were carried out at the weekend ahead of the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street
PA
“It’s really important to recognise that decline is not inevitable, we can reverse it.”
Lord Khan stressed that since City Hall announced its plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street, store vacancies were down and “quality shops are moving in”.
Crime, including a spike in phone snatching, has been a recurring concern.
An artist’s rendition of how the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street will look
Mayor of London's Press Office/PA Wire
Some of the renowned names shutdown and moved out, leaving the area with a rundown atmosphere.
Asked whether the pedestrianisation would mark the end of the American candy stores and tacky souvenir shops that have plagued the famous road, Lord Khan said: “I’m looking forward to good quality shops rather than the dross we’ve had.
“This is the nation’s high street. It can contribute to London’s economy and to the greater economy and I’m really pleased that finally Oxford Street will be pedestrianising.”
The music retailer also faced a substantial bill for renovations, which combined to make the flagship location “commercially unviable”.
All the bus route changes as Oxford Street pedestrianisation gets under way
TfL
Lord Khan added he wanted Chancellor John Healey to include business rate support and measures to help stores employ more young people in his fiscal statement.
“The Prime Minister has already announced a reduction in business rates for some sectors,” the Mayor said.
“We need some more support… I’m determined to work with the Government to support our retail.”