Having been on the London Assembly when the two previous Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs) were set up – London Olympics and Old Oak Common – l am not sure it’s actually needed, if you were going to pedestrianise Oxford St as the Mayor has declared.

The simple truth is that if you are serious, you would have to sort out the buses that bring Londoners to Oxford St in the first place. With as many as 16 bus routes plying their trade along Oxford St, you really do need to both alter their routes and offer alternatives for Londoners to get there. As it’s a major thoroughfare for buses going across London, on the Northside of the river. So l was surprised when this was all muted a few weeks ago, no mention of this huge task had been made for this push to pedestrianise Oxford St and something TfL need to be getting on with asap.

Also we have to acknowledge some of the progress made by Westminster City Council, with getting rid of the US sweet shops, getting “Ramadan lights” along the street during the month of fasting and also getting major new venues like the Moco Museum at the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street. After the Mound fiasco a few years ago, major progress has been made which should be acknowledged at least.

Funnily enough, for such an important thoroughfare of public transport in London, it’s actually not even a red route and is a major oversight since the formation of the GLA in 2000. So let’s make it a red route and thus make Oxford St become the responsibility of Transport for London. That way, the Mayor would be a better position to make a contribution to Oxford St success. So in short no need for MDCs but simply transfer Oxford St to TfL as a red route, as first stage of pedestrianisation of Oxford St.