The implications of Sadiq Khan's plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street are wide-ranging, and will affect streets, traffic flows and quality of life for people living across the West End. Cllr Paul Swaddle spoke with Soho resident and by-election candidate Tim Barnes.
"We're here in Cavendish Square on the site of a building site. Tim, why have you brought me here?"
"Well, we're, as you say, in Cavendish Square. Sandwiched somewhere in between Oxford Street, which Mayor Khan would like to pedestrianise and Wigmore Street, where many of the buses and much of the traffic would end up going. And an area like this would be completely transformed by these proposals.
"The thing is, we were already transforming it. There were plans in place under the Conservative administration and this Labour Council have taken those and developed them. And there's a plan for over £90 million to be spent regenerating the area. And much of that money is already being spent. So these building works are examples of where that money has gone.
"And in addition, the planning, the consultation process and the professional fees mean that all of that is now it needs to be torn up. All of that money and time is going to be wasted, and it will take at least two years until we see any change. We're better in many waysa with the plan that we've already got.
"But the critical thing here is to understand that Oxford Street pedestrianisation isn't just about Oxford Street.
"It's about all the streets to the north and all the street to the south, in Marylebone and Mayfair and Fitzrovia and Soho. They're going to have to take the cars, the buses, the bikes and the all of the rest of the traffic and the service vehicles that are needed for the shops on Oxford Street, because they will no longer be needed there.
"And that's just not a pressure that either the residents, or those local businesses can take, when the streets were designed for horse and cart, not for modern big vehicles."
Paul concluded,
"Thank you Tim. If you want to make sure that voice is heard in the Council after Thursday, vote Tim Barnes on Thursday."
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