London SE1 > News & Features > September 2000

Closed to cars - open to people

The Cut is to be traffic free on Friday 22 September as part of European Car-Free Day.

Lambeth and Southwark Councils have teamed up to see that SE1 has one of the 600 streets being closed across Europe. But Michael Bridgeland of the Lambeth Transport Group says: "We're not closing the road. We're opening it up to people!"

Plans include an authentic French Market selling cheese and crafts brought by Eurostar from a car free street in Paris. The Old Vic and Young Vic are planning street theatre and Evans Cycles will be running a competition with a chance to win a new bike - cycling will be allowed on Car-Free Day.

Restaurants are already planning to put tables outside for shoppers to enjoy a meal or just a cup of coffee.

The Cut will be closed to traffic from 7am to 9pm. The French market will arrive at 9am and remain open until about 5pm - or when the cheese runs out.

50% of pollution comes from road vehicles but half of all car journeys are less than two miles long.

Car-Free Day supporters include the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.