Sadiq Khan slammed as London bans cars from world-famous street - 'Catastrophic'

Sadiq Khan has said plans to ban traffic from a stretch of Oxford Street have been approved. Vehicles are to be prohibited from accessing a 0.7-mile section of the famous route between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.

With around half a million visitors each day, Oxford Street is one of the world's busiest shopping areas. The Mayor of London said on Thursday: "I am delighted to be moving forward with my bold vision to transform Oxford Street into a world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events."

Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at Transport for London (TfL), said: "We will work closely with Westminster Council in the coming months to implement changes to the roads around Oxford Street."

He said the Mayor will provide more information on the next steps for the "transformational" scheme next week.

A previous bid by Sir Sadiq to pedestrianise part of Oxford Street was blocked by then-Conservative-run Westminster City Council in 2018.

To succeed with his latest plan, he obtained permission from the Government to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation - which provides planning powers. TfL took over control of the road from the council.

Adam Hug, leader of the authority, said: "Our role now is to ensure that the Mayor's Oxford Street transformation is made to work for local communities, as well as for London.

"Over the last 18 months we have secured a number of key improvements from the Mayor of London's original plans to ensure that the proposals for Oxford Street are more deliverable and better meet the needs of local residents, businesses, and wider London."

The Marylebone Association, which represents residents and businesses, has described the plans as "dangerous, unworkable and catastrophic for the surrounding neighbourhoods".

It warned the pedestrianised zone would be a "magnet" for criminals and "creates new risks on an unprecedented scale".

The Association said in November: "Removing traffic removes natural surveillance, turning the street into an open stretch vulnerable to gangs, rough sleeping, illegal trading and street crime.

"Businesses already report soaring shoplifting, assaults and anti-social behaviour.

"Even the Mayor's own strategy relies on a major expansion of the late night economy, increasing alcohol licences and extensions."

The Mayor's office said the plans received "extensive support from the business community" during a consultation by TfL.

Steve Gooding, Director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: "In densely developed and historic cities like London there will always be keen competition for the limited road space available, resulting in contentious political decisions as to who gets priority.

"Perhaps the biggest traffic challenges with the Mayor's initiative is how to re-route the myriad bus services that will be affected and deal with the junctions where road traffic currently traverses Oxford Street."

Works to pedestrianise the road are expected to start in the summer, with the first traffic-free section introduced by the end of the year.