Local councillors have warned London's city hall that pedestrianising Oxford Street must not result in traffic simply being diverted on to nearby roads.
Oxford Street in central London will be pedestrianised by 2020 in time for Crossrail under plans unveiled by the mayor of London’s office.
Valerie Shawcross, London's deputy mayor for transport, has revealed plans to ban all traffic along Oxford Street from Tottenham Court Road as far as Marble Arch.
Oxford Street has four million visitors a week
Ms Shawcross went on to say that buses would be rerouted around Oxford Street, but did not give details of planned routes.
Cllr Jason Williams, Labour's shadow cabinet member for city management and sustainability in Westminster said: ‘While we believe there could be benefits from plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street, it is vital this is done in conjunction with a review of bus routes so as not to move traffic and pollution onto residential streets north and south of Oxford Street.
‘Real consultation with local residents needs to be an integral part of any plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street.’
Most of the 1.2-mile world famous shopping street is already closed to cars between 07:00 and 19:00 every day apart from Sunday. The street has around four million visitors a week.
The ban will be done in two stages to reduce disruption. It will first come into force on the eastern section, between Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus, Ms Shawcross said.
Joe Irvin, chief executive of Living Streets, said that Oxford Street was currently dangerous and polluted.
‘We believe pedestrianisation will solve some of these problems and it will also make it an economically viable modern high street,’ he added.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'Sadiq has made the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street a priority as it will contribute to his aim of improving air quality, and it will also make it a far safer and more pleasant place to visit.
'Pedestrianising Oxford Street from Tottenham Court Road through to Marble Arch will require a phased programme of work that will take several years, as it will need a great deal of co-ordination and a close working relationship with Westminster as well as local businesses and residents. But London deserves an iconic pedestrianised shopping street, and when work is complete the Mayor believes it will be a truly world beating environment.'
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