00:03This is a momentous day for Oxford Street but also for London. Look, it's really important that we support our
00:09fantastic retail. It's really important we recognise the challenges they face, not just decades of decline, but also the competition
00:17from online shopping, from out of town centre, shop malls.
00:20I want to be supporting our shops in Oxford Street and having a kilometre worth of this street, almost half
00:25of this street, traffic free forever. It means more space, it's safer and in advance of Christmas, you know, people
00:33to come here and shop and enjoy the experience.
00:35Early New Year, we'll start the work in earnest. More seats, more trees, public squares, a pedestrian plaza. We'll be
00:44testing and learning to make sure we refine our designs based upon the experience people have on us, those who
00:50are listening or those who are watching and come and see for themselves.
00:52The evidence suggests this policy is going to work. We're keen, though, to test and learn. So during the first
00:57phase, we're going to see what works, what doesn't work, adapt and refine our plans.
01:01The idea is to work with the councils, work with the residents, work with the businesses, work with other partners,
01:06and eventually the plan is from Marble Arch to Tulumka Road to eventually be fully pedestrianised.
