Regent Street traffic ban to help lure out Christmas shoppers
Cars, taxis and buses will be banned between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus from 10am to 9pm on December 5, 12 and 19
(AFP via Getty Images)Regent Street is to be closed to traffic for three Saturdays in December in a bid to lure shoppers back into the West End in the run-up to Christmas.
Cars, taxis and buses will be banned between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus from 10am to 9pm on December 5, 12 and 19.
The West End has been largely deserted since the first lockdown in March apart from a brief recovery towards the end of the summer and stores are desperate to rescue the festive season
Jace Tyrrell, chief executive at business group New West End Company, said: “The West End will be open to all shoppers who want to enjoy a festive experience like no other while shopping for their last few Christmas gifts.
“We have 50 per cent fewer people than last year who can get to the West End as tourists are not visiting this season, and we hope that Londoners will take advantage of the spacious and secure environment to enjoy the unique festive offerings of the West End.”
The move came as Harrods revealed that its winter sale will start before Christmas for the first time in its 171-year history. The Knightsbridge department store said its seasonal discounts will begin as soon as it reopens after the second lockdown on Wednesday. Ministers are preparing to make it easier for stores to open 24 hours a day during next month.
Environment Secretary George Eustice told BBC Breakfast today: “We are looking at a range of measures to try to ensure that we don’t get overcrowding in stores so, while retail venues are going to open from Wednesday that’s very important — we also want to ensure we can maintain social distancing, we want to avoid crowds, so a range of measures are being considered.
“I’m not sure whether there has been a decision yet on round-the-clock opening, but I know there has been some discussion around the Sunday trading hours and some easements there.”
Some larger stores have already said they will be introducing 24-hour trading, including branches of Primark at the Lakeside, Bluewater and two Westfield shopping centres as well as Brocklebank Retail Park in Charlton.
Rachael Robathan, the leader of Westminster council, said: “Lots of things have been cancelled this year but Christmas is most definitely on — so let’s rally behind our retailers.”
Meanwhile stores continued to count the cost of missing out on opening over the four-day weekend of discounts that ended today with Cyber Monday.
Analysts ShopperTrak revealed that footfall on England’s high street was down 98 per cent on Black Friday, although online spending boomed.
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