The Mayor's Oxford Street scheme has made international news. Al Jazeera English reported on the first traffic-free day from Oxford Street itself, and Cllr Tim Barnes, Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council, gave the council's view.
"Pretty much one way"
Al Jazeera's report, by Camille Nedelec, noted that some residents fear moving buses off Oxford Street will mean more pollution and noise in once-quiet residential streets, and that the council believes local businesses will be harmed, not helped, by the change.
Tim told Al Jazeera: "There has been a communication process with residents, but it's been pretty much one way. Mostly they are being told what's going to happen to them and how it's going to happen, what the format of the process is going to be in future. But realistically, those who know the street best haven't really been listened to."
The council's concerns
In its online report, Al Jazeera also records Tim's view that the economic benefits claimed for the scheme are overstated, and his concern about the impact of moving bus routes onto the smaller streets around Oxford Street.
The Oxford Street Development Corporation, which the Mayor created to take the street out of the council's hands, is to review the first phase in the coming months, with the rest of the street expected to go traffic-free by the end of next year.
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