The “Save Our Oxford Street” Community Rally is on Wednesday 7th August at the Paddington RSL.
Residents and local business owners in Paddington say there is a rising tide of resentment against a plan by the City of Sydney Council and Transport for New South Wales to build a cycleway along iconic Oxford Street.
“We are opposed to the plan and want it stopped“ says long term business owner Sue Ritchie who is a spokesperson for the group “SAVE OUR OXFORD STREET”.
She says the plan defies common sense and would destroy the traditional village atmosphere of the street, disrupt local businesses and create safety and traffic problems.
The group has arranged a rally at the Paddington RSL on August 7th to provide information and harness the increasing opposition to the plan with Council elections not far away.
“Only people power can stop this,” Ms Ritchie said “and we are determined to make our voices heard at the ballot box unless the plan is scrapped. We want Lord Mayor Clover Moore and the NSW Government to hear our objections loud and clear. Sydney’s iconic, internationally renowned cultural quarter that is Oxford Street, is about to be trashed by a proposal that will divide the village into two, make pedestrians dodge oncoming cyclists approaching from either side and create only one lane for cars in either direction.”
Under the proposal it would not be possible for motorists to turn right off Oxford Steet from Taylor Square for a distance of 3km until they reached York Road at Bondi Junction. “That is a recipe for rat runs through quiet residential streets. Businesses and local residents will be disadvantaged by reduced access to shops and parking with the elderly and pedestrians facing the hazards of reaching the so-called floating bus stop in the middle of the road”, Ms Ritchie said.
She said the SAVE OUR OXFORD STREET group was non-political and organised by the community for the community.
The information meeting on August 7th at Paddington RSL starts at 6.30pm.
Anyone wanting to join or support the group can contact by email 3SSOxfordSt@gmail.com or come to the rally.
