Oxford Street’s One Day Traffic Prohibition is the beginning of ‘Fight to Rescue Street’, the Mayor said

Sunday 21 September 2025 15:07

Share

• 
  Share on Facebook
• 
  Share on Twitter
• 
  Share on LinkedIn
• 
  Share on WhatsApp
• 
  Share in the email

The Mayor of London has said the trial of one day forbids traffic from the part of Oxford Street Marks “The day of the fight again began to save this road”.

Sir Sadiq Khan visits the road, where vehicles are prohibited from accessing a half -mile road from Oxford Circus to Orchard Street between noon and 8 nights on Sundays for the event called Oxford Street.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Sir Sadiq said Oxford Street was “extraordinary” in the past.

“But the reality is, it has declined for some time,” Khan said.

“I will call it a decline.

“Today is a glimpse of what the future is like, where this is a place where people can walk. This increases footsteps. This increases expenses, (it will be) a good place to shop, to do free time, but also has outdoor events.

“(Today) will go down in history, in my view, when the battle day again began to save this path”.

Khan wants to prohibit vehicles from a 0.7 mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with the potential for further changes to Tottenham Court Road.

A detailed proposal for traffic under the pedestrian plan will be consulted at the end of this year.

The mayor said he “fully understood” “minority population” which raised concerns over congestion and accessibility, and said the authority had consulted with residents.

“We will continue not only working with residents and the council, but work with retailers, landowners, and others to ensure we can return this road to the previous glory,” Khan said.

Asked if he had a plan for more pedestrians in the capital, Khan said: “We have worked with the council for pedestrians in London, outside the Somerset House. We, this summer, invest in Al Fresco Dining during the summer months.

“So we work with the government so we can have more strength than licenses and so on.

“I think hospitality, retail is our very important economic sector, but also, (they) one of the reasons people like to come to London”.

Oxford Street is one of the busiest shopping areas in the world, with about half a million visitors every day.

Previous efforts by Khan for pedestrians of the Oxford Street section were blocked by the Westminster City Council which was managed by conservative in 2018.

The latest proposal depends on getting permission from the government to establish a new mayor development company, which will provide planning strength.

The goal is for this to be made earlier next year.

By Ellie Crabbe and Neil Lancefield, Pa