http://www.theappointment.co.uk/news...=False&ID=3333
quote
Westminster City Council rules out Oxford Street pedestrianisation
plan
Oxford Street pedestrianisation plan
Westminster City Council has ruled out an Oxford Street
pedestrianisation plan, but promised to give the Bond Street, Oxford
Street and Regent Street areas a makeover in time for the 2012
Olympics.
The new plan will deliver wider shopper-friendly pavements, ‘oases’
for al fresco dining and cutting edge lighting. Westminster City
Council, together with Transport for London, the Mayor’s office and
New West End Company, aim to redesign the streets and cut traffic to
give shoppers “more space to stroll”.
Sir Simon Milton, the leader of Westminster City Council, said:
“Wholesale pedestrianisation of Oxford Street is totally unworkable.
Our plans make the West End more pedestrian-friendly, while ensuring
it retains the vibrancy and excitement which sets it apart from cloned
malls not just in this country, but around the world.
“These three streets are the country's premier shopping, dining and
entertainment destinations, and form part of a reinvigorated and
thriving local community which gives the West End its life beat. We
are already making excellent progress with tangible improvements
happening on the ground right now, and this final plan will see over
100 actions taken to transform and do justice to these world famous
streets”.
Key to the success of the plan is a phased reduction in the amount of
traffic, especially along Oxford Street which is currently choked by
up to 220 buses an hour travelling in each direction along its busiest
section.
Quoted in the ORB (Oxford, Regent and Bond Street) Action Plan, TFL
commissioner Peter Hendy said: “Transport for London is working with
Westminster City Council and New West End Company to provide
innovative ways of delivering an even better retail environment whilst
maintaining good public transport services in the area. Good progress
has been made during 2007 including measures which have improved
pedestrian accessibility on Oxford Street. The “Legible London”
wayfinding project was successfully launched in November 2007, in the
Bond Street area, and will serve as a prototype for schemes across
London”.
New West End Company’s chief executive, Richard Dickinson, added: “We
feel that regeneration of the area should be based on the principle of
achieving high levels of sustainability, both in terms of buildings
and the transport and servicing arrangements that underpin it. We hope
that this document will provide a blueprint for the improvement of the
area, respecting the needs of everyone who lives in, works in or
visits the area included in this Action Plan”.
unquote

Sooner or later the tram thistle will have to grasped. No
redevelopment decisions should be made that preclude the establishment
of a tram system - in fact any infrastructure modifications to
pavements that involve moving utility cables and pipes should br
organised with the tram system in mind.