Drivers face 'nightmare situation' over part of London banning 'all cars'

Drivers have been forced into a "nightmare" situation as Sadiq Khan plans to ban all cars on Oxford Street. The Labour Party London Mayor says a ban could also impact Tottenham Court Road in the capital city, with a ban between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.

Karim Fatehi, CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said: “London is a global tourist destination, with a diverse and vibrant retail scene which attracts around 30 million visitors every year.

“Oxford Street is the city’s most famous street and the busiest shopping destination in Europe. But over the last decade it has seen the closure of several iconic brands and an increase in low quality retail stores.”

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He added: “We are supportive of the efforts being made by Westminster Council to reverse this trend, but we must now go further to ensure that the capital's premier shopping street continues to flourish and brings back forward-looking brands and footfall that maintains our competitive lead on other cities.”

Oxford Street is one of the world's busiest shopping areas, with about half a million visitors on average every day. Mr Khan said he believed the plans would help revive the area. The new plan depends on the government awarding the mayor new planning powers to create a "Mayoral Development Area" around Oxford Street.

Asked on Tuesday whether the move was healthy for local democracy, Khan said: “We’ll work with the council; it’s not an issue of bypassing the council. We’re working with the council. But you’ve got a street here that contributes £22bn towards the local economy, the national economy, the city’s economy, 500,000 visitors a day. So we’ve got to make sure we work with the council, with the Government, with businesses to get the best possible deal we can for this street.

“I don’t believe anybody can sensibly be happy with the status quo. I wasn’t a fan of the Marble Arch Mound. I’m not sure anyone else was.”