Oxford Street fills with shoppers on first traffic-free day

However, concerns were raised by some about accessibility, and whether the re-routed buses and new bus stops and taxi ranks, installed about 200m and 100m from the pedestrianised area respectively, would be enough to support disabled shoppers.

One black cab driver who spoke to BBC London said he was worried that access to Oxford Street would “become a problem” for some of his disabled passengers.

Last week, chair of Inclusion London, Adam Gabsi, said “the proof will be in the pudding”.

“If access to buses and taxis becomes difficult, then there’ll be problems for people like me,” he said, adding that although disabled Londoners were consulted on the plan, it was not co-produced by them.

Sight loss charity Guide Dogs welcomed the changes, and Wheels for Wellbeing argued that accessibility needed to be properly built into the final design.