"This will cause a lot of problems," Founder of FairFuel UK Howard Cox has claimed after the London Mayor revealed that he plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street in London.
The proposal aims to ban traffic from a 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, transforming the iconic thoroughfare into a "beautiful public space".
Mr Khan said: "Oxford Street was once the jewel in the crown of Britain's retail sector, but there's no doubt that it has suffered hugely over the last decade. Urgent action is needed to give the nation's most famous high street a new lease of life."
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuel UK, expressed concerns about the impact on accessibility and traffic and claimed that this "will cause a lot of problems" with traffic already being "appalling" in the city.
Howard Cox said it could "hurt businesses big time"
GB News
He said on GB News: "If you stop them getting to places, they won't shop in these places. And that's not just disabled, that's infirm. I'm 70 years of age and I've had a hip operation. I don't really want to walk a mile down the road to get to John Lewis."
Cox also warned about potential displacement of congestion and pollution to other roads, arguing that the plan "hasn't been thought through" and could "hurt businesses big time".
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He added: "You do not block traffic. It's as simple as that. It's going to hurt businesses big time.
"The thing I'd like to see stop is the millions of cyclists that go through red lights, that go ramming down there and might be pinching your bags and your phones and things like that. That's what I'm worried about."
The project is expected to cost around £150 million, with City Hall officials hoping local businesses, private funders, and new revenue streams could foot the bill.
Mr Khan's plan hinges on obtaining permission from Ms Rayner to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation, granting his office planning powers to swiftly implement the pedestrianisation.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has proposed the plans
PAThe plans have received backing from the new Labour government, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner expressing support for the initiative.
Deputy PM Angela Rayner expressed strong support for the plan, stating: "This plan to revitalise Oxford Street will drive growth by creating new jobs, generating economic activity, and giving a much-needed boost to London's night-time economy."
Business leaders have also backed the initiative. John Lewis' executive director welcomed the move, while John Dickie, CEO of BusinessLDN, said: "We look forward to engaging with the new Mayoral Development Corporation... to help make Oxford Street an even more vibrant and attractive place to visit."
Oxford Street currently welcomes over 500,000 visitors daily, generating approximately 5% of London's economic output.
Angela Rayner shared her support for the proposal
PADespite the potential benefits, the plan faces several challenges. Stuart Love, Westminster City Council chief executive, highlighted "practical challenges" and the need to address concerns of local residents and users of the street.
The council's existing £90m plan maintains direct bus access, which they argue is crucial for shoppers, workers, disabled, elderly, and low-income individuals.
Accessibility remains a key concern, with critics like Howard Cox emphasising the importance of vehicle access for disabled and elderly shoppers.
The plan still requires final approval from Angela Rayner in her role as housing and communities minister. The Labour Party has expressed a desire to expedite the approval process for new projects to boost Britain's economic growth.
