Pressure is mounting on Boris Johnson to confirm plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street before his tenure as Mayor of London comes to an end this spring.

 

Mr Johnson has written to the London Assembly member Stephen Knight – a strong supporter of banning vehicles from Oxford Street – to say that a series of options are being examined to enhance the street for those on foot. These include reducing the number of bus services and relocating bus stops, through to full pedestrianisation.

 

Walking charity Living Streets said last week that pedestrianising at least part of Oxford Street is vital to achieving the aims of increased safety and improved public access.

 

The charity’s London campaigns manager Sarah Williams said: “Oxford Street is already at breaking point. It’s horrendously overcrowded and with Crossrail due to open in 2018 we’re looking at a significantly bigger problem. We must act now to reduce overcrowding, sky high pollution levels and an unsafe environment.”

 

The Mayor was asked by London Assembly chair Valerie Shawcross just before Christmas for Transport for London’s estimate of the costs of pedestrianising Oxford Street. Mr Johnson said that a detailed assessment of the costs and benefits of “a number of options for enhancing Oxford Street and the surrounding area” is due to be completed by mid-2016.

 

(Photo: Google Maps)