Caroline's news

Airport capacity in London is currently underused, with some of London's airports having more than half their runway slots free, says a new London Assembly report. Even Heathrow – at 99 per cent runway capacity – might potentially fly an additional 20 million passengers every year if larger aircraft were used.

The Transport Committee’s report – Airport Capacity in London – suggests existing airport capacity in London, including at busier Heathrow and Gatwick airports, could be used more effectively.

Its reasearch shows:

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on reports today that Transport for London plan to shut the Jubilee Line for more than 30 days through central London due to acidic water eating into the tunnels walls, said:

"Instead of over 18 months of repeated weekend and holiday closures I question whether one intensive block closure perhaps in August would be both cheaper and less disruptive.

The BBC reports on the Mayor's plan to spend £160,000... "to find out why many people do not know what he does"!

Caroline Pidgeon told the BBC:
"The Mayor of London already has a large press office and Transport for London devote huge resources to promoting him as well.

"It beggars belief that anyone seriously thinks additional public money should be spent on promoting the Mayor or defending his policies.

"This appears to have more to do with the Mayor's wider national ambitions than what is proper for London taxpayers."

Responding to the news that Transport for London has spent £150,000 on surveying the public about the Thames cable car - and refusing to publish the results - Caroline Pidgeon commented:

"If it insists on conducting such extensive polling it should at the very least ensure the public can see all of the information they have paid for, it begs the question what are they hiding?

"It is simply wrong for a public body such as TfL to spend a fortune on polling and then cherry pick the results they publish."

Caroline visited Camden Borough on Friday 12th April to see first hand local issues that are of concern to local communities and local Lib Dem Councillors.

Caroline started her visit looking at the potential impact of HS2 near Camden Town and the very busy and potentially dangerous main roads for cyclists and pedestrians with Councillors Chris Naylor, Paul Braithwaite and Keith Moffit. (Read more here in the Camden New Journal. Caroline is working with a cross party group of members of the House of Lords looking at a potential alternative for the London end of HS2 which would not have such a damaging impact in Camden around Euston and on the London Overground service.

Caroline then went to visit Belsize Fire Station, one of the 12 under threat of closure by Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson. Caroline spoke with local councillor Tom Simon and local residents about their safety concerns