Sadiq Khan unveils plan to ban cars on famous UK street despite crime warnings

The plans, antecedently blocked successful 2018, would spot buses and taxis banned from the celebrated street. (Image: Getty)

Sadiq Khan plans to prohibition postulation from London’s Oxford Street, six years aft a erstwhile effort to bash truthful was blocked, contempt warnings it could marque the thoroughfare little safe.

Critics reason that the plans, which are portion of a wider government-supported regeneration project, volition crook the iconic buying thoroughfare into a “no-go zone”.

The Marylebone Association, which campaigned against the strategy successful 2018 said it risks making the thoroughfare much unsafe due to the fact that it's "very antithetic during the day".

There person been respective incidents of robbery and unit connected the thoroughfare successful caller years including the fatal stabbing of Stephen Dempsey successful 2021.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor has supported the plans which purpose to boost the acquisition of tourists and shoppers successful 1 of the world’s busiest buying areas.

Mr Khan antecedently failed successful a bid to pedestrianise the thoroughfare successful 2018 (Image: Getty)

The country has struggled to retrieve from the harm inflicted during the pandemic, with respective big-name brands specified arsenic Debenhams and House of Fraser closing their flagship stores connected the thoroughfare to beryllium replaced by lesser-known names.

Speaking astatine the closing enactment for London Fashion Week, Mr Khan said: “Oxford Street was erstwhile the jewel successful the crown of Britain's retail sector, but there's nary uncertainty that it has suffered hugely implicit the past decade.

“'I americium excited to beryllium moving with the caller Government, and section retailers and businesses, connected these plans that volition assistance to reconstruct this celebrated portion of the superior to its erstwhile glory, portion creating caller jobs and economical prosperity for the superior and the country.

'I privation Oxford Street to erstwhile again go the starring retail destination successful the world.

“The translation of Oxford Street volition beryllium a starring illustration of however moving unneurotic - City Hall and the caller Government - we tin physique a amended London for everyone.”

Several large sanction brands person been forced to adjacent their Oxford Street sites. (Image: Getty)

Currently, the thoroughfare limits postulation to buses, bikes and taxis betwixt Monday and Saturday betwixt Great Portland Street and Portman Street.

Steve McNamara, of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, told The Telegraph: “My members person mislaid each assurance successful the police.”

He argued that upmarket stores specified arsenic Selfridges and John Lewis were among the busiest successful London and that Mr Khan’s plans ignored the accessibility needs of susceptible Londoners who relied connected the transport.

Mr Khan’s latest connection sees him question support from Angela Rayner successful her secondary relation arsenic Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Ms Rayner has expressed her enactment for the plans saying: “Oxford Street is simply a world-renowned buying destination and we privation it to enactment that way.

Established precocious thoroughfare names are progressively being replaced by lesser known brands connected the street. (Image: Getty)

“By moving with the Mayor and section leaders, we tin guarantee it gets the boost it needs.

“This program to revitalise Oxford Street volition thrust maturation by creating caller jobs, generating economical activity, and giving a much-needed boost to London's night-time economy.”

Westminster City Council main enforcement Stuart Love has said that the authorization has worked with businesses and residents of the thoroughfare to formulate plans to revitalise it without the request for pedestrianisation.

He said: "The latest pedestrianisation connection from the Mayor of London was lone shared with america past Thursday.

“It volition beryllium important to person further details astir what is planned, including however agelong it could instrumentality to beryllium delivered and however the concerns of section residents and users of the thoroughfare volition beryllium addressed.

“We volition privation to cognize however they volition payment from immoderate proposals, peculiarly fixed the applicable challenges pedestrianisation whitethorn person for the wider area.”