Latest news with #trafficban
Khaleej Times
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Ajman updates hours of banning heavy vehicle movement on 2 streets
Ajman has updated the hours during which the movement of heavy vehicles on two major roads will be banned, the emirate's police said on Friday. During the morning, heavy trucks will be banned from using these streets from 5.30am to 9am, whereas in the afternoon and evening, they will not be allowed between 2pm and 9.30pm. The police authority clarified that these adjustments, which apply on Sheikh Zayed Street and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street, will go into effect starting Tuesday, July 22. Take a look at the affected streets shown on the map: On all other Ajman roads, however, a full ban on heavy vehicle movement remains in effect, the authority stated. In 2019, heavy vehicles were banned from Mohamed bin Zayed Road in Ajman, as well as on the opposite direction from Umm Al Quwain towards Sharjah from 5.30am to 12am.
Irish Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Mounting concerns in Dundrum over traffic changes with potential to produce ‘dead village'
Business owners in Dundrum are concerned that a proposal to banish cars from a stretch of road and introduce new cycle lanes will accelerate the decline of the South Dublin village. The main street has already experienced vacancy and dereliction in recent years, with one of the State's largest shopping centres just a few minutes away. 'If a dead village is what they want, a dead village is what they're going to get,' said Lance Grossman, who operates a jeweller's on the Upper Kilmacud Road with his son Ben. The proposed DLR connector changes will deliver 8.5km of continuous walking and cycling facilities from Dún Laoghaire to Dundrum. It will also bring segregated roundabouts, bus stop upgrades, new landscaping and junction upgrades. READ MORE The scheme includes a plan for a new bus-only street on the Ballinteer Road. This will make the stretch between the Main Street junction and the Dundrum Town Centre Green Car Park accessible to buses and emergency vehicles only. The consultation period has just concluded. Liam Coughlan of Save Dundrum Village Action Committee on Main Street, Dundrum. Photograph: Kate Byrne Ruth Deveney, owner of Deveney's wine shop on Main Street, feels the idea that 'everyone can take the bus, walk or cycle in all weather' is 'unreasonable'. She said the village 'has struggled for the past 20 years as a result of the volume of vacant commercial units which have since become derelict. If we continue to follow the council's trajectory, there will be no small independent businesses left.' Ciarán Bent, who operates a general practitioner's surgery in Dundrum village, is particularly concerned about a proposal to place segregated cycle lanes on the Kilmacud Road near the Holy Cross Primary School. While he is 'not against cycling', he believes this is 'an accident waiting to happen'. 'If you have children coming down, it's a very long road with a very dangerous incline. They put their nose into the wind, they cycle like mad ... it's an adrenaline rush,' said Dr Bent. Ciarán Bent outside his GP practice on Main Street, Dundrum. He is concerned about road safety and speed. Photograph: Kate Byrne Lance Grossman noted that there are already several businesses closed down on Main Street, and the removal of cars from the street will further the closures. This will bring 'fewer new customers' into the village, he said. Dundrum Business Association chairman Darren Chambers said while they support 'the ambition' of the scheme, the corridor raises accessibility and commercial concerns. He said the project should align with 'the long overdue town centre redevelopment' while being 'informed by genuine engagement with the local community'. However, there is also local support for the scheme. Resident Seán Barry, who is a member of the DLR Dublin Cycling Campaign, feels 'the safety benefits' of the DLR connector 'are worth it'. Mr Barry, who has two children attending a local school in Dundrum, said 'they have to cross a lot of the junctions' in the village, which are 'very dangerous at the moment'. Alternative routes to the DLR connector proposed by Save Dundrum Village Action Committee. Liam Coughlan, of the Save Dundrum Village Action Committee, said he is 'not against cycleways', but is concerned because 'a lot of people are of a certain age and they require their cars to get into the village'. In a submission to Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council's public consultation, the committee offered alternative routes to the proposed DLR connector, including diverting it north of the Barton Road East-Ballinteer Road roundabout to join the Dundrum bypass. Local Labour Cllr Peter O'Brien said there are 'huge positives' to the proposed scheme. He 'understands there's concerns from local businesses – and they're legitimate concerns'. But he believes it is a net positive. 'I think it'll be great for the area, I think it'll be safer to travel for young people', he said. Green Party Cllr Robert Jones, who lives nearby, said the project would 'finally address long-standing safety concerns, especially for pedestrians and cyclists navigating increasingly busy streets, junctions and roundabouts'. Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, when contacted for comment, said: 'This scheme will connect neighbourhoods east to west across the county through a safe, accessible, and attractive walking and cycling route with public realm and greening improvements.'
Times
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Times
When cars were banned from Oxford Street in the 1970s — in pictures
Plans were announced this month to pedestrianise a 'significant chunk' of London's Oxford Street in an attempt to rejuvenate the area. Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, will push through the 'near mile-long' scheme to ban traffic, despite opposition from Westminster city council. In June 1972, The Times reported: 'Cars to be banned from Oxford Street'. The experimental scheme removed cars except buses and taxis to 'cut accidents, speed the flow of buses and make conditions more attractive for thousands of shoppers'. A backlash against growing levels of traffic had already led to protesters targeting the famous shopping artery. • Oxford Street faces car ban to pave over the cracks of decline Alfred Harris photographed an anti-pollution demonstration which brought traffic to a halt on Oxford Street in December 1971. The carnival atmosphere featured balloons, flowers and songs by the Oxford Street Action group, aimed at drawing attention to the 'warped priorities of car-mad planners who are killing London'. The police swiftly made arrests and dragged protesters away. A year later Tom Dixon and Peter Dunne returned to Oxford Street, capturing the effects of the new scheme to ban cars, with pedestrians, shoppers and cyclists enjoying the shopping destination free of the customary traffic jams and pollution. The street was now adorned with newly-planted trees and benches providing a 'welcome change of scene' for shoppers as reported in The Times. In July 1977 Michael Ward was assigned to the shopping destination for a Sunday Times article entitled: 'Oxford Street, shopping centre of Europe'. It was a year boosted by Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee in which Oxford Street was set to benefit from '£200 million from foreign shoppers' alone, representing a 'staggering 25 per cent of the total amount that the British Tourist Authority reckons will be spent throughout the country by overseas visitors'. • Selfridges to open members' club as battle for big spenders heats up Ward's lens documented a thriving, bustling, cosmopolitan beacon of shopping. His images capture the shoppers, traders and fashions in 1970s London. The Sunday Times declared: 'There is nothing quite like Oxford Street in its variety, value for money and density anywhere in the world.'
Telegraph
17-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Sir Sadiq Khan: Most Londoners support Oxford Street car ban
Sir Sadiq Khan has said most Londoners support his plan to ban traffic on part of Oxford Street. London's Labour Mayor wants to ban vehicles from a stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with the potential for further changes towards Tottenham Court Road. A previous attempt by Sir Sadiq to pedestrianise that part of Oxford Street was blocked by Westminster city council, which was then Conservative-run, in 2018. His latest proposals depend on him obtaining permission from Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation, which would provide planning powers. The aim is for this to be created by the start of next year, with detailed proposals for traffic to be consulted on later this year. Oxford Street is one of the world's busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day. Sir Sadiq's office said 66 per cent of respondents to a consultation supported the pedestrianisation plan. A separate YouGov survey, conducted in September last year, indicated that 63 per cent of Londoners were in favour of the project. 'Moving ahead as quickly as possible' The Mayor said: 'Oxford Street has suffered over many years, so urgent action is needed to give our nation's high street a new lease of life. 'It's clear that the vast majority of Londoners and major businesses back our exciting plans, so I'm pleased to confirm that we will now be moving ahead as quickly as possible. 'We want to rejuvenate Oxford Street – establish it as a global leader for shopping, leisure and outdoor events with a world-class, accessible, pedestrianised avenue. This will help to attract more international visitors and act as a magnet for new investment and job creation, driving growth and economic prosperity for decades to come.' Ms Rayner said: 'We want to see Oxford Street become the thriving place to be for tourists and Londoners alike, and that's why we welcome the Mayor of London's bold proposals to achieve that. 'We will support the Mayor in delivering this ambitious vision, which will help to breathe new life into Oxford Street – driving investment, creating new jobs for local people and providing a boost to economic growth in the capital.' 'Oxford Street has roared back to life' Adam Hug, the leader of Labour-controlled Westminster city council, said: 'While the Mayor's formal decision today was not the city council's preferred outcome, it is far from unexpected, and it is now important for Oxford Street's future to move forward together. 'Since the Mayor's new approach was made public last autumn, Westminster has worked pragmatically and productively with the Greater London Authority to ensure that the plan for Oxford Street more closely meets the needs of businesses, visitors, and residents. 'Since 2022, Oxford Street has roared back to life after the pandemic. Such is the level of retail confidence that existing brands have spent £118 million refitting their stores in the last 12 months alone, according to Savills. 'Westminster city council will work constructively with the mayor's team to ensure the nation's high street is re-imagined in a way that works for visitors, shoppers, and our residents.'
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mayor of London to move ahead with Oxford Street traffic ban
Plans to pedestrianise parts of Oxford Street will move forward "as quickly as possible", the mayor of London has Hall claims two thirds of people support the principle of banning traffic on one of the world's busiest streets, with Sir Sadiq Khan adding that "urgent action is needed to give our nation's high street a new lease of life".Vehicles would be banned from a 0.7-mile (1.1km) stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with further potential changes towards Tottenham Court Hug, Westminster City Council's Labour leader, said the plan "was not the council's preferred outcome" but "it is now important for Oxford Street's future to move forward together". Detailed proposals for traffic on Oxford Street, which sees an average of half a million visitors each day, will be consulted on later this year. 'Elephant in the room' Tim Lord, chair of the Soho Society, said key questions remained unanswered, including about "traffic diversion and the impact of moving 16 bus routes into narrow, congested one-way streets in Marylebone and Fitzrovia".He said: "No convincing plan has ever been presented; London is already a very slow city and will get worse."The elephant in the room is that Oxford Street's problems are to do with the quality and attractiveness of the retail offering, which is diminished by rents which are too high and which only ever increase."He added that there were questions about bicycles and "equality of access for bus and taxi users" and "people with kids and heavy shopping or with mobility restrictions". A previous consultation showed support for the scheme from local business owners (19%) and residents (34%) lagged behind visitors (62%).In 2018, Westminster City Council - then led by the Conservatives - blocked the mayor's plans to pedestrianise the street, citing a lack of support from 2022, the same council was widely mocked for a doomed attempt to entice visitors back to the area with the Marble Arch Mound, which opened incomplete, over budget and led to resignations. The mayor's latest proposals depend on him obtaining permission from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in her role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation, which would provide planning Sadiq said: "We want to rejuvenate Oxford Street; establish it as a global leader for shopping, leisure and outdoor events with a world-class, accessible, pedestrianised avenue."This will help to attract more international visitors and act as a magnet for new investment and job creation, driving growth and economic prosperity for decades to come." 'Roared back to life' Mr Hug said: "Since the mayor's new approach was made public last autumn, Westminster has worked pragmatically and productively with the Greater London Authority to ensure that the plan for Oxford Street more closely meets the needs of businesses, visitors and residents."Since 2022, Oxford Street has roared back to life after the pandemic. Such is the level of retail confidence that existing brands have spent £118m refitting their stores in the last 12 months alone, according to Savills."City Hall Conservative Alessandro Georgiou AM said: "We are concerned that the mayor is driving coach and horses through the plan drawn up by Westminster Conservatives, which had the popular support of residents and businesses, in order to secure himself even a shred of a positive legacy after last week's disastrous Spending Review. "The mayor's polling claims to show how strongly Londoners feel about this issue, but he has yet to make a cogent case for why he needs to take power away from local councils in order to achieve this rather than working with them."We will continue to hold the mayor to account on his empty proposals, and encourage him to be clearer with the public about the impacts on congestion, public safety and disabled access, as well as how much his plans will cost."
