By Marie Jackson BBC News

A year in Trafalgar Square

The story goes that several years ago a Canadian friend of mine arrived in England and headed straight for London.

He emerged from the London Underground in Trafalgar Square, took one look around him at the choked ring of traffic spewing fumes into the litter-strewn square infested with pigeons - and got straight back on the Tube, and out of London.

That was a while back, and since then the Mayor's vision for Trafalgar Square to become the cultural, as well as the geographical heart of the city, has begun to take shape.

Overseen by Lord Nelson perched 56m above on his column, the square has become a place to worship sporting heroes, celebrate saints, shed tears for lost ones and chant beliefs.

It has always been a battleground for beliefs - ever since the Chartists' March of 1848.

But following a �25m project to transform it in 2003, almost 200 public events (excluding political rallies) have been staged there.

It has been the backdrop to key moments in London's sporting, political and cultural calendar from Olympic bid success to Nelson Mandela's call to make poverty history.

It was a humane response to what was a very unpleasant experience Spencer de Grey, deputy chairman of Foster and Partners

Even two films, V for Vendetta and Children of Men, have been shot there.

So has the change proved a success or has some of its gritty charm been lost for the sake of a more sanitised square?

Spencer de Grey, deputy chairman of Foster and Partners, is in no doubt that the redesign which he masterminded gave way to a major transformation.

"It was a humane response to what was a very unpleasant experience," he told BBC News Online.

"Pedestrians were treated more like caged animals. The idea was to make it more accessible for London visitors."

Grand civic space

As part of the 18-month World Squares for All project, five lanes of traffic were removed from the north side and a grand central staircase now leads from a new piazza in front of the National Gallery down to an outdoor cafe in the lower square.

"We tried not to ban the car completely but to get a better balance - that was the overriding aim," he said.

London, he said, had been missing a grand civic space and this was the solution.

For Mr de Grey, an abiding memory will be London's Olympic bid celebrations broadcast across the world against a setting of his own creation.

I chose Trafalgar Square for its symbolism David Clarke, ECB events manager

Those scenes, together with the 2003 Rugby World Cup celebrations, were enough to convince David Clarke there was no better venue when his turn came to stage a victory parade.

Mr Clarke, who masterminded the England cricket team's Ashes celebrations, told BBC News Online: "I chose Trafalgar Square for its symbolism, the fact that it has become a focus throughout the year and the history of it."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) events manager said once he had spoken to the Mayor's office after the fourth test match at Trent Bridge, his mind was made up.

He followed a similar lay-out to both previous major celebrations, and estimates up to 150,000 fans caught a glimpse of the spectacle.

"It was perfect and a spectacular setting," he said.

'Alison Lapper Pregnant' currently sits on the fourth plinth

It is not easy to find critics of the new design - most guides seem to agree with London's Lonely Planet Guide that it has undergone "a remarkable transformation", making it easier to appreciate the buildings flanking it.

However criticism has been made of peripheral plans.

Liberal Democrats criticised the Mayor's bill for tackling the pigeon problem - their figures showed it cost �28 for each of the 4,900 pigeons removed.

Another row broke out over the placement of a bronze statue of Nelson Mandela - Ken Livingstone wants it to the north, Westminster Council in front of South Africa House - so far it is 1-0 to Westminster.

Meanwhile the fourth plinth, a temporary showcase for contemporary art works, attracts much debate.

Among some controversial choices was a sculpture of Christ, the current Marc Quinn piece of a pregnant woman with no arms or legs and a brief unauthorised appearance of a waxwork of David Beckham.

Next week restoration work begins on Nelson's Column, ensuring the admiral will be there for many years keeping a watchful eye over London's affairs.