London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan has given Oxford Street the green light for pedestrianisation.
Let’s be clear: the Mayor is putting his legacy project ahead of the real concerns local people and businesses have raised about accessibility, bus routes, and traffic being displaced into surrounding streets.
And it is no surprise. The Mayor has made clear he intends to press ahead regardless of objections, and today’s decision proves it.
Labour led Westminster City Council surrendered control to Sadiq Khan and classified it as a non major decision to prevent scrutiny and block debate. The Mayor has also refused to release postcode level data from his own consultation, avoiding transparency about how strong local feeling is.
That is not transparency. It is Westminster Labour and Sadiq Khan shutting local people out while ignoring their concerns.
Our local referendum found that people in Westminster overwhelmingly oppose the current plans.
Westminster Conservatives will always stand up for residents, listen to local concerns, and demand proper scrutiny before decisions are forced through.
Cllr Paul Swaddle OBE, Leader of the Westminster Conservative Group, said:
“Sadiq Khan is ignoring local people on Oxford Street. Residents and businesses have raised serious concerns about access, bus routes and traffic displacement, but the Mayor is pressing ahead regardless.
Westminster Conservatives will not stand by while Westminster Labour and the Labour Mayor ride roughshod over local voices.
We will bring forward an amendment in Labour’s budget on 4 March to establish a legal fighting fund so Westminster City Council can properly challenge this reckless pet project and force the Mayor to address the real impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods.”
Westminster Conservatives will continue to fight for an Oxford Street shaped by local people, with genuine consultation, clear protections for access, and a plan that does not push problems into surrounding areas.
