Pedestrianising Soho may rob the area of its charm

Plans to make one of central London's most famous party districts traffic-free sound like a no-brainer... but it could have unintended consequences

- James Moore

Working in Soho, as I once did - and not, as a go-go dancer, as my editor cheekily suggested - can be a blast. A modest grid of tightly-knit streets in central London that was home to waves of refugees fleeing poverty and religious persecution, it has more recently been a place to roister and carouse.

Working in Soho, as I once did - and not, as a go-go dancer, as my editor cheekily suggested - can be a blast. A modest grid of tightly-knit streets in central London that was home to waves of refugees fleeing poverty and religious persecution, it has more recently been a place to roister and carouse. Some of the capital's best pubs, clubs, music venues and restaurants are here. Interesting shops, too - ie, not the usual high street chains. It's an accepting, diverse and, above all, fun place that, for a couple of decades at least, found itself as the epicentre of London's gay life.

Its other accolade is as the last corner of central London not to be hit by the developer's wrecking ball - but its essential tumbledown charm is under increasing threat.

Soho is an iconic destination and, if it ain't broke, leave it as is. But an influential lobby is trying to fix it anyway, with architects John Lacey of Doodle Architecture and Russell Potter of Soda Studio spearheading a new proposal to pedestrianise its streets permanently.