London’s Oxford Street will be pedestrianized from Oct. 26
The London mayor said a kilometer of the capital city's road will be traffic free from next month.
London's bustling Oxford Street, renowned for its shopping, will become car-free from October 26, according to the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan. The mayor unveiled the decision during a presentation at the POLITICO Pub, a Labour Party conference venue. Khan expressed optimism that the transformation could rejuvenate the iconic shopping destination, which has faced difficulties due to the surge in online shopping.
Khan's primary aim is to revitalize the area by making it a more appealing pedestrian zone that could attract more retail establishments, leisure activities, visitors, and tourism. Khan criticized the street's past "managed decline," which he believes includes "tat shops" that no longer belong in the area. The mayor's announcement comes after a "massive increase in interest with good quality retail" since the initial proposal was made.
However, the plan has not been without opposition. Tim Barnes, the Tory Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council, expressed reservations, stating that businesses still have numerous unanswered questions regarding the feasibility of the initiative. Barnes raised concerns about various aspects, including access, air pollution, street cleaning, and public safety.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
