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Boris shelves Ken's plan for a Parliament Square piazza
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent11.07.08
Plans to transform Parliament Square into a pedestrianised piazza in time for the Olympics have been shelved by Boris Johnson.
The Mayor's office said he was reviewing the proposals amid concern that closing off streets would cause jams.
But sources close to the £18 million project, originally given the go-ahead by Ken Livingstone, claimed it had been abandoned to avoid angering motorists.
One said: "We've got a Tory Mayor and Parliament Square is in a Tory borough. Neither wants to lose votes because of stopping people driving across London."
Under the plans, the road in front of Westminster Abbey would be closed to cars and the lawn at the centre replaced with stone paving and benches. The new design was predicted to attract 30 million visitors a year.
Mr Johnson suggested to Building Design magazine that Parliament Square was unlikely to be the only major public space scheme to go back to the drawing board or be scrapped.
"The butterflies and the trees and architects' plans - I love all that and I think that people will, you know, generally like them very much," he said.
"There are some differences about some of the proposals currently on the drawing board and I don't want to get dragged into a discussion - because a lot of them are under review now. But I'm strongly attracted personally to things which give people a sense of ownership over public space, particularly cyclists."
The redesign was abandoned by Transport for London after studies found it would worsen congestion. A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "The Mayor has requested further work to be carried out on the Parliament Square Improvement project before giving the go-ahead for the next stages.
This follows concerns with the possible traffic impact, which are supported by Transport for London's advice."
But Green London Assembly member Jenny Jones criticised the Mayor for shelving the project.
"Boris seems incapable of making the tough decisions needed to improve London's environment," she said. "There were huge complaints from motorists ahead of the redesign of Trafalgar Square, but the previous Mayor faced them down. Trafalgar Square was transformed from a famous monument on a traffic island into a well used and loved public space. If Boris hasn't got the guts to make tough decisions, then all his talk of a beautiful London filled with trees, birds and clean air is meaningless."
The Parliament Square plan was part of a Design for London scheme to create or upgrade 100 public spaces, including Brixton central square, Exhibition Road and Euston Circus.
Daniel Moylan, chairman of London Councils' transport and environment committee, said: "The Mayor has a fantastic opportunity to make London's streets better in time for the Olympics. We'll be very embarrassed if he does not do that in front of millions of visitors."
Reader views (16)
Nothing less than i expected. How could anyone be pleased with this decision? Surely this was a chance to replicate the success of Trafalgar square pedestrianisation? Boris is a coward not to stand up to the car lobby and Westminster. This would have been the best decision for London.
- Sean Kirwin, London
If Jenny Jones is throwing a fuss, then our new Mayor must be doing right. Go Boris!
- G London, London
Good work Boris, Porsche will be proud of the new puppet mayor and his unfailing ability to bow to populist pressure and take London back to the days of the 1950s when great big motorways across the capital were planned, just like in the US, with little regard to city-dwellers.
Why not finish the job and concrete over the rest of the square allowing every car-user and his/her dog to travel around aimlessly once the congestion charge has been cancelled?
- John Buckeridge, Harrow
Yeah you go Boris! .. stick it to Jenny Jones and his extremist green environmental views.. doesn't he know know his words are falling on death ears.. finally a mayor with common sense!
- Phil, London
Outside of the rhetoric, the point being made here is very simple. In this part of the world, the majority of routes East-West and North-South and vice versa involve going through some part of London with a road system built for 19th Century (or earlier) forms of traffic. A lot of other cities in the world have nothing like the density of traffic or narrow streets that we have in London.
Parliament Square is a major hub and its closure would put a lot of pressure of roads both South of the river and North of the Square, arguably decreasing the quality of life for residents, visitors and the travelling public. So it's not about nimbyism, or bowing to the car lobby. It's about being practical and recognising that a joined up solution is needed to get traffic moving, reduce emissions and make other forms of transport a safe option.
- Matthew, london
Good work Boris! Common sense over PC, that's what we like.
It's uncanny how frequently people use the term "tough decision" when their own schemes have been criticised... but never consider that the "tough decision" might be the decision to criticise.
Same 'ole, same 'ole.
- Ben, London
At last, a Mayor who realises that London is a working city that needs a working road network. Let's hope he scraps the Sloane Square scheme as well and returns Trafalgar Square to it's former flowing glory.
- Tony Cooper, London, England
Thank goodness there'll be no piazza full of junk food, face-painted kids,mothers breast-feeding, silver balloons and cuddly toys, dog turds, roaming wrecking yobs and litter...and more kids. This sort of fairground proposal has no place in front of Parliament. At least lets keep the environs dignified even if the incumbents are not.
- Judith Chisholm, London
Since becoming pedestrianised, Trafalgar Square has been transformed and is great for most of the public; however, the congestion along the new route around has increased - surely the effect of this needs to be taken into consideration. If the number of drivers can't be reduced by pedestrianising streets, but instead creates lengths of slow moving traffic - CO2 emissions will be increased. It doesn't sound very environmentally-friendly to me. How can Jenny Jones slam the project when this is what a study has shown? If she is able to show studies/advice to the contrary, then present it to the Mayor instead of simply sniping - it just reeks of a childish tantrum.
- D, City of London
Why not a piazza? - and why not throw in a pizza parlour, a hot dog stand, a merry-go-round, a candy floss stand, a ferris wheel, a water splash, and a skittle alley? The Mother of Parliaments deserves no less. And why not Ken Livingstone on hand to do magic tricks for the kids? It might keep him away from City Hall.
- Alex, London
A dark day. It looks like cars will be put before people in Boris' London. He should have learnt from the Trafalgar Square experience. Instead of a radical and bold mayor now we have a suburban nimby in charge. I'm ashamed my city is not as pedestrian friendly as many on the continent. The roar and fumes of traffic in front of our great monuments damage the visitor experience.
- Sean O'Conor, London, England
A Green mayor? Don't make me laugh! It's all about getting Cameron elected into Number 10 and if they can keep the 4x4 drivers happy by promising to cut petrol and road tax, the congestion zone charge in the Tory Heartland and keeping roads open over open spaces for pedestrians - so be it!
- Ted Trimble, London, UK
Oh Boris. This would be a real shame. One of the world's most famous landmarks deserves more than the current roundabout.
- Stephen, London
Good decision. A Piazza would only benefit the workshy and the tourists. So save us some money for a change.
- Squiz, Islington
It is extraordinary that there is not a single pedestrian crossing to Parliament Square and anyone who wants to reach the statue of Winston Churchill has to sprint across jup to five lanes of traffic, with many drivers quite blatantly driving with one hand on the wheel and another on their mobile phone.
This is a very bad decision by Boris but perfectly in keeping with his plans to make pedestrians wait longer at red and to allow motorbikes into bus lanes. Ken Livingstone's credentials as the pedestrians and cyclist's friend were always grossly exaggerated but Boris is taking us back to the dark ages where motorized traffic has top priority. Where walking and pedestrianisation is concerned London is the most backward city in Europe.
- D Green, London, UK
Well done Boris, Its great to see a mayor actually thinking for the people. If livingstone was re-elected he would have caused millions havoc and misery not to mention the extra cost in tens of millions of taxpayers money to support his racist organisations.
- Robert, Aberdeen
