REMINDER – YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT TOMORROW – 2ND MAY – TO RESPOND TO THE MAYOR’S CONSULTATION

Dear Members
We want to let you know about Fitzwest’s response to the Mayor’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street.

Pedestrianisation:
We can not say if it is a good idea or not without seeing detailed plans, as we have identified some issues that need addressing:

• Congestion
  • potential for 70 buses per hour both ways down Wigmore/Mortimer Street
  • Goodge St/Tottenham Court Road junction – will buses be able to turn left and right out of and into Goodge St?
  • taxis and ubers. Where will they pick up and drop off fares? Will it be the end of streets like Wells, Newman, Rathbone, Berners Streets?
• Increased air pollution
• Access to business and homes,
• Access to Oxford Street shops,
• Access to night buses for the many users in our area,
• Access for loading for the businesses on Oxford Street
• Crime and safety during the day and night
• Pedestrian crossing safety.

The Mayoral Development Corporation:

• We disagree with the anti democratic use of the MDC to enable this scheme which will be an expensive quango
• The MDC will have total jurisdiction over all planning decisions – routine and major.
• We think that Westminster Council  can do the job more effectively
• We are concerned and puzzled by the large size of the MDC which increases the potential for undemocratic planning decisions in areas around Oxford Street as well as Oxford Street itself.
•  The Fitzwest Forum and all its business and resident  members worked very hard over a number of years to create the Neighbourhood Plan. This was voted in a referendum of businesses and residents  and the MDC will be able to ignore it. We feel Westminster Council is better positioned to make decisions on planning matters including enforcement.
• It will also reduce the amount of CIL money available for local projects designed to enhance the quality of life in Fitzrovia

You only have until midnight  tomorrow – Friday 2nd May –  to respond to the consultation which is on the TFL website. Here is the link

https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/oxford-street