The Conservative Group on Westminster City Council strongly opposes the Mayor of London's proposal to designate Oxford Street and surrounding areas as a Mayoral Development Area, the MDA. Their objections include:
- Centralisation of Power: The proposal undermines local democracy by transferring planning powers from Westminster City Council to a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) dominated by Mayoral appointees, reducing accountability and ignoring local input.
- Lack of Evidence: The proposal fails to provide data or analysis to justify the need for an MDA, lacks economic modeling, and disregards alternative strategies previously developed by Westminster City Council.
- Community Impact: The proposed boundaries are illogical, displace activities to surrounding areas, and fail to address traffic management, noise, and emissions concerns, negatively affecting residents and businesses.
- Ignoring Local Institutions: The plan overrides previous bipartisan efforts by Westminster City Council and lacks funding or evidence to demonstrate superior outcomes compared to local governance.
- Accessibility Concerns: The displacement of traffic and public transport routes would disproportionately harm vulnerable groups, including the elderly and disabled.
- Failure to Address Core Issues: The proposal neglects pressing issues like crime, antisocial behavior, and public safety, which are critical to Oxford Street's appeal and regeneration.
- Transport and Displacement Issues: The pedestrianisation plan lacks detailed strategies for managing displaced traffic, rerouting buses, and accommodating emergency services, potentially worsening congestion in surrounding areas.
The Conservative Group urges the Mayor to withdraw the proposal and collaborate with local authorities to develop a regeneration plan based on evidence, local needs, and democratic legitimacy. They argue that effective leadership and collaboration within existing frameworks would better serve Oxford Street's future.
Read the Conservative Group's submission to the Greater London Authority in full.
