Mayor 'to revamp London's streets'
Plans have been announced to adapt some of London's major streets to make them more accessible for tourists and pedestrians.
London mayor Ken Livingstone plans to revamp some of the capital's major streets to give them a more open, continental feel, according to reports.
A new initiative announced by Mr Livingstone could see visitors to London walking along broad paved streets similar to Barcelona's Las Ramblas or the boulevards of Paris.
Some of London's busiest roads could be closed to cars, with the four-lane Victoria Embankment alongside the Thames one of the streets that could be paved over for pedestrian use.
There is also a possibility that traffic could be banned from a series of roads connecting London's parks and shopping areas, including Portland Place, which runs between Regent's Park and Oxford Street, the Times reports.
Cars would be diverted along different routes to make their way around London, but the plans have invited criticism from motoring groups and retailers.
However Green Party member Jenny Jones said: "Making it more enjoyable for people to go by foot will help to cut congestion and relieve pressure on some of London's busiest bus and Tube routes."
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