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Oxford St gets £40m clean-up ahead of Olympics
David Williams, Motoring Editor12 Mar 2008
Oxford Street is to get a bold multimillion-pound makeover in time for the London Olympics, plans reveal.
The street, together with Regent Street and Bond Street, will get wider, pedestrian-friendly pavements and "cutting edge" lighting under the £40 million scheme.
There are also side-street "oases" where Londoners can eat al fresco and smart new signposts.
Sandwich board adverts will be driven out to revive the area's upmarket feel and charity collectors - or chuggers - face tight new controls on the way they operate. But total pedestrianisation, favoured by Mayor Ken Livingstone, has been ruled out by Westminster council which has the final say. The scheme will create a new crossing of Oxford Street at Regent Street, removing barriers to allow pedestrians to cross freely from any side.
The change parallels moves in Kensington High Street to remove barriers and bollards.
The new open crossing at Regent Place means all traffic will be halted, unlike the present system which uses phased lights.
Westminster is also calling on Transport for London to cut the number of buses and other vehicles that marr the district but it has said it does not want to see trams in the area. This is a blow to Mr Livingstone who wants to introduce "shuttle trams".
Sir Simon Milton, leader of Westminster council, said: "Wholesale pedestrianisation of Oxford Street is totally unworkable.
"These three streets are the country's premier shopping, dining and entertainment destinations and form part of a reinvigorated and thriving local community which gives the West End its life beat. This final plan will see more than 100 actions taken to do justice to these famous streets."
Funding for the makeover comes from TfL, the New West End Company and private developers, with £3 million from Westminster. Sir Simon said the first of 14 oases had already been created, at Old Quebec Street, which had become an al fresco area.
To further boost the area's appeal more than 750 new motorcycle bays will be installed together with 60 blue badge (disabled) bays. Westminster says the key to the entire project is the need to reduce traffic. Currently 220 buses an hour travel along Oxford Street but the council believes plans for trams are "not feasible".
Reader views (3)
Pedestrianise the whole street please.
- Bob, London, UK, 13/03/2008 09:51
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Only 4 years to wait then.
- Bj, London, 12/03/2008 12:54
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Nearly 1000 motorbike spaces but no cycle parking??
Still okay to burn engine-oil in the busiest area of London then?
- Marc, Hammersmith, UK, 12/03/2008 12:48
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