Westminster's streets serve 200,000 residents and over 800,000 daily visitors. Transport policy must work for all of them.
Oxford Street: Standing Up for Local People
Oxford Street is not just a global shopping destination. For many people in Westminster, it is their everyday local high street. It is a lifeline for older people, those less mobile and families who depend on direct buses. Oxford Street tube station is not step-free accessible and removing buses would shut residents out of their own local high street.
The Mayor's consultation drew around 2,700 responses from across London, yet he refuses to release postcode-level data, undermining transparency and concealing the true strength of local opposition. Our own local referendum speaks for itself: over 1,700 Westminster residents overwhelmingly oppose the current plans.
The Council handed control to Sadiq Khan through a Mayoral Development Corporation, classified it as a non-major decision to prevent scrutiny and block debate.
We will take a clear stand. We will set up a legal fighting fund to challenge Sadiq Khan in the courts and force him to listen to local people. We will fight to protect the bus routes that less mobile people depend on to reach Oxford Street, ensuring no routes are removed until step-free access is guaranteed at Oxford Circus. We will demand a meeting with the Mayor to call for an Oxford Street u-turn and the release of the full consultation data. We will oppose any scheme imposed without genuine local consent. And we will use every lever available to the Council, including the planning process, highways powers and public scrutiny, to ensure that local people are heard through genuine consultation and that Oxford Street continues to work for the people who live here.
Pedicabs
The Council, the Mayor and TfL have dragged their feet on regulating pedicabs, despite the powers already being delivered by the Conservative Government. We will press for the swift implementation of the Pedicab Licensing scheme with firm enforcement to clamp down on rip-off fares, noise nuisance, and dangerous behaviour.
Genuine Consultation
Residents want to be consulted properly, and they want their views to count. We will ensure consultations are genuine: designed to listen, focused on local voices and followed by action that reflects what people tell us. We will prioritise the views of local people when making major decisions, not people from unaffected areas.
Reviewing Public Realm Schemes
We will review all major street schemes. Schemes that improve one part of Westminster while demonstrably worsening another will not be supported. We will not support street features like “floating bus stops” that disadvantage people with mobility issues.
Car and Van Sharing
Zipcar's closure has left a significant gap. We will explore new options for a reliable car-share partner with a flexible mix of cars and vans across all parts of Westminster.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
Under Conservative leadership, Westminster created the UK's largest on-street EV charging network. We will expand it sensibly alongside new e-bike parking spaces, support low-cost electricity access and review EV pay-to-park, and explore kerbside domestic-supply charging.
Protecting Bus Routes
We will assess all available options to oppose further bus route cuts that reduce access for residents, including routes that serve Oxford Street, particularly for those who are less mobile.
Road Safety
Using evidence-based data, we will prioritise safety schemes that protect the most vulnerable road users, particularly around schools.
Cycling
We will work with residents, businesses, schools and disability groups to ensure cycling schemes are safe, practical and respectful of pedestrians. We will expand cycle training in Westminster schools and colleges, and work with the police to target irresponsible cycling on pavements that puts pedestrians and other road users at risk. We will also address the growing demand for secure cycle hangar storage.
Car Parking
We are committed to a fair parking charging system that encourages greener vehicles. We will look at the case for visitor parking permits. We will monitor users of disabled bays to prevent abuse of the system and ensure bays remain available for those in genuine need.
Public Utilities
We will enforce strict standards for reinstatement after roadworks, ensuring poorly repaired surfaces are corrected without delay and companies are held accountable.
Noisy Vehicles
We will continue to fund acoustic camera operations to deter illegal car clubs and explore further options to tackle this problem, building on the work local Conservative councillors began.
Our pledge: Fight for an accessible, locally shaped Oxford Street. Genuine consultation. Expand EV charging. Secure carsharing. Protect bus routes. Tackle noisy road users.
Safe Streets. Clean City. Real Action.
Your vote on 7 May is the difference between a Labour Council that takes you for granted, or a Conservative Council that will deliver value for money, safe streets and a clean city.
Only the Conservatives can beat Labour in Westminster.
Vote Conservative on Thursday, 7 May.