Blogs

Caroline spent the weekend campaigning in Prince's Ward, Vauxhall where there is a council by-election. This was caused by the resignation of the Labour Councillor who had moved some time ago to Bristol - where he is standing for parliament - and yet was still claiming his allowance from Lambeth. Caroline joined Lib Dem Candidate John Roberts and Sarah Ludford MEP meeting local residents.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, has revealed that one in five pedestrian crossings in London do not give people enough time to cross the road.

The figures, which had to be obtained by a Freedom of Information inquiry, show 472 crossings do not comply with the minimum timings guidelines from the Department of Transport. These crossings do not provide enough time between the green man light disappearing and the amber light appearing for motorists.

Local residents in Haringey will have to wait an extra four months after a train company broke promises last week on introducing Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) on local trains. First Capital Connect (FCC), which runs the Overground train line north of Finsbury Park, recently agreed that train users would be able to use PAYG from September this year; but this has now been delayed until at least January 2010.

Caroline Pidgeon has written in today's Guardian on Boris Johnson's first year as Mayor.

Caroline says:

Yet what about his many other pledges to Londoners? On transport alone there has been a long list of broken promises. ...
 
He claimed he would fight for new transport projects, yet the last year has seen him cancelling project after project, including the Greenwich waterfront transit scheme, the Cross River tram and proposals to extend the Docklands Light Railway.

Higham Hill Lib Dem ward councillors Peter Woollcott, Patrick Smith and Sean Meiszner, have been campaigning for a new route between Highams Park station and Tottenham Hale for years.

They argue that as the area is one of the most deprived in the country, and more than a mile from Walthamstow Central Station, a route is desperately needed.

The group met with Lib Dem London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon on Thursday who will lobby the mayor and Transport for London (TfL).

Mr Woollcott said the route would bring much benefit to the area.

He said: “There are proposals to build 240 homes in Sutherland Road, 600 in Banbury Park, and the possible Walthamstow Stadium development, so we need facilities in place now.