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Most
people view Trafalgar Square more as a tourist attraction than a
usable square for the capital's residents.
But Ken Livingstone hopes the £25m pedestrianisation scheme
will make Trafalgar Square more of a focal point, with concerts
and street entertainment becoming the norm rather than the exception.
He said:
"What we have now got is a square were people can come and
meet.
"Also we've got all the things we didn't have... disabled access
for people with wheelchairs."
Ken added: "We've now got a world square and we are going to
use it."
When quizzed
about London's New Year celebrations he added: "We are working
on something really quite special."
But
will it work? We went down to Trafalgar Square to find out...
 American
tourists Patrick Farley, 62, and his wife Lois, 63, have travelled
all the way from Florida to celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary.
They've
been to Trafalgar Square before and reckon the change is a real
improvement.
Patrick
said:"I think it's very good. I think it will really benefit
the tourists and people that live here.
"It makes the square a bigger and better place."
 Londoners
Peggy Howard, from Brixton, and Sheila Jackson, 62, from Kennington,
liked the new look.
Peggy said: "I think it's really great. They've done a good
job."
Asked whether Londoners would use the square, Peggy said: "It
depends what events they are going to put on. It's more of a tourist
attraction really isn't it.
"It will mean you won't have to take your life into your own
hands getting to it though", she joked.
 Anne
Ngozi, 40, from Nigeria was very impressed.
"It's beautiful. It's really lovely. I think it's going to
make a real difference because it's much, much, better."
The New Year celebrations would be safer according to Nick Halford,
24, and Jessica Hartridge, 23, both from Epsom.
Nick said: "They'll be much more space for the celebrations.
Before you could only get access from two points. Now it'll be a
lot easier.
 He
added: "I drove round her the other day the changes didn't
make too much difference to my journey. I'm all for it."
Jessica said: "I like what they've done. More people will come
here. It'll be good for the groups of tourists and I can imagine
a lot of people using them to chill out on."
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