Critics warn that limiting transport access to Oxford Street privatises public space and inconveniences commuters who avoid the underground network, especially after recent bus service cuts. Furthermore, residents across the country dispute mayoral claims that the capital's shopping corridor serves as the nation's high street. However, advocates note that historical road closures, such as the April 2019 climate protests, generated a 13.5 percent surge in footfall by creating a less polluted retail environment.
Key points
Local government plans to remove vehicle traffic fail to address the core financial burde…: Local government plans to remove vehicle traffic fail to address the core financial burdens threatening retailers.
Restricting street transport disproportionately penalises shoppers and visitors who do no…: Restricting street transport disproportionately penalises shoppers and visitors who do not use the underground railway network.
Evidence from past traffic blockades suggests that greener and less polluted spaces can s…: Evidence from past traffic blockades suggests that greener and less polluted spaces can successfully boost visitor footfall.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The real causes of the problems seen in Oxford Street (The long read, 22 October) are high rents, the chaotic system of business rates and the replacement of many smaller footprints with larger ones; these are the main factors that have made the street less viable. The large flagship shops depend on being surrounded by good-quality small businesses to attract customers.
Much of what the mayor of London is doing here is a de facto part-privatisation – stopping up a very important public highway for a large number of users of “unwelcome” modes of transport, to benefit private landowners.
Rather than buses being a main culprit here, it is much more likely that the gradual downgrading of bus services along Oxford Street has contributed significantly to its decline.
The strategic mistake of routing Crossrail along Oxford Street – long after this plan lost its part-justification (dating from when it was conceived decades ago) of stimulating the West End – has caused the dangerously high footfall levels that have become a main motivation for pedestrianisation.
A dominant high-pressure system moving over the British Isles will bring welcome relief after successive storms Austen and Bóelo triggered severe autumn downpours. The prolonged dry spell promises mostly calm skies through early November, though travelers should expect hazardous morning fog and chillier overnight temperatures. However, long-range forecasts warn that Atlantic storms and a strengthening El Niño could drive a return to stormy conditions later this season.
The former paratrooper launched his unbroken global trek from Chile in 1998 following the breakdown of his marriage, adhering to strict rules that barred motorized transit and precluded returning home early. As the 57-year-old nears his final destination in Hull, he faces an emotional family reunion alongside an anticipated identity crisis after spending roughly half his life dedicated to the expedition.
Contract negotiations between Haas and Oliver Bearman remain on track despite speculation surrounding delayed talks ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Team principal Ayao Komatsu strongly refuted media reports claiming financial disagreements were stalling a renewal, emphasizing that both parties intend to continue working together. The clarification comes amid heightened focus on the team's future lineup following other driver announcements.