London Lib Dems demand pedestrian-only Oxford Street

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 22nd Sep 2007

To mark 'Car Free' day on Saturday September 22nd, London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford joined Geoff Pope, Lib Dem Transport spokesman at the London Assembly to protest about inadequate action on vehicle pollution, and call for the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street.

Sarah said:

"Oxford Street is vital to London's economy. But cramming people onto crowded pavements and poisoning them with dangerous traffic fumes is rotten marketing."

"The EU could force Ken Livingstone to take action and clean up our streets. New European air quality laws will crack down, for the first time, on pollution from the dangerous small particles spewed out from exhausts which cause respiratory and heart ailments, thrombosis and stroke."

Geoff said:

"Replacing all Oxford Street buses with a tram scheme will transform London's premier shopping street. Congestion and pollution would be reduced and the street environment enriched."

"But the Mayors response to me this week that a review of options for Oxford Street will be completed in late 2008 is simply astounding in its complacency. Liberal Democrats have been pressing the Mayor to go about making Oxford Street more pedestrian friendly since 2004."

ENDS

Note to Editors:

London Liberal Democrats are currently campaigning for pedestrianisation and signage projects to improve and expand walking trips in central London. Key locations include Oxford Street, The Mall and Westminster.

Related Link:

Sarah Ludford's website