Mayor of London announces new West End initiatives

Mayor of London, Boris Johnston, Westminster City Council and West End retailers have joined forces to launch two new initiatives aimed at boosting trade in London’s Oxford Street. Coming after results showed a 4.1% year on year drop in sales

in the West End during March, plans have been announced to introduce two additional traffic free days in December. These will include the biggest shopping day of the year, Boxing Day and the weekend of 10th and 11th December.

Retailers blamed the March slump on disruption caused by building work on the new Crossrail stations at Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road as well as escalator upgrades at Oxford Circus. Other factors included spending cuts protests on March 26 and a dip in the number of Middle East visitors because of the turmoil in the region.

The new traffic free days are expected to draw in an extra spend of £50million.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said, “At a time when the focus on the capital is more intense than ever, the success of the West End will play a vital role in securing London’s reputation. I am delighted we have been able to secure two new dates for the hugely popular traffic-free events, which will give retailers a major boost and set the tills ringing throughout the West End.”

In a separate initiative, New West End company is working in partnership with the Mayor, Transport for London, Westminster City Council and West End retail leaders to submit their top tips for a new campaign ‘West End Travel advice.’ This aims to encourage shoppers and visitors to explore alternative routes and even discover new territories in London’s West End, whilst major Crossrail and Tube upgrade works are carried out over the next seven months on Oxford Street.

Cllr Brian Connell, Westminster Council Cabinet Member for Business, added, “The last couple of years for businesses haven’t been easy but the West End has proved incredibly resilient. Previous VIP days have proved to be a welcome boost to the West End’s shops and we hope to see that success continue.”