Farshad Kamali and Richard Alvey presented ideas for the Strand and Regent Street, part of a plan for London 2020. It was recognised that the quality of the Strand had declined in visual terms, safety, and convenience for pedestrians but it was possible to close some side roads, reduce the width of the vehicular space in the Strand, provide more pedestrian crossings and introduce traffic calming in side streets to prevent rat-runs. An alternative would pave over the whole street and use a pedestrian friendly form of transport. Both ideas have implications outside their boundary and would involve extensive consultation. Colin Davis described some of the ideas being included in a forthcoming London Streetscape Manual which aims to reduce the clutter of the overall environment resulting from the fact that up to twenty different agencies are involved.
Nobody owns the street and no-one has the power to achieve overall improvement.
In Horsham, the Chief Executive decided to make it work - a list of fourteen agencies needed to be coordinated from cleansing to traffic lights. Most individuals, such as conservation officers, just do not have the authority. Democratise Urban Space Keep sight of the main objective Aim for quality of product Curtail the car and promote pedestrian and public transport Eliminate gyratories and free flow traffic Foster activities and the 24 hour city Realise that the management of urban space is as important as design.