Caroline's news

Caroline joined Sutton's Deputy Leader Cllr Ruth Dombey with local campaigner Roger Roberts to meet traders on London Road to discuss issues with short stay parking on the red route.

The bays by the shops are split between loading ones and 20 minutes parking. Many customers receive parking fines for parking in the wrong part by mistake and in fact local traders and residents would like to see all of the bays as joint loading and short term parking so that it is simple and clear for everyone.

Caroline has taken up these matters with Transport for London with a series of questions:

At long last, after work with local Lib Dem Councillors in Carshalton and Tom Brake MP, Transport for London has started work to replace the railings around Carshalton Ponds. Caroline saw the problems first hand when she visited Carshalton and looked at a number of transport issues last summer.

Initially Transport for London were refusing to put any temporary bus stops in place whilst the works were taking place, but have since agreed and installed temporary stops to help local people continue to use buses whilst these major works take place.

As news emerges that TfL has had to pay £25m to the company that owns Canary Wharf in compensation for the major delays to the Jubilee line upgrade, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

"Users of the Jubilee line have faced years of misery as the upgrade programme over-ran. To learn now that millions of pounds has been shelled out to Canary Wharf Group, while passengers have not been compensated, adds insult to injury.

"It is time the Mayor and TfL were honest with Londoners over the real cost of this long-standing fiasco. We are entitled to know the details of every penny that has been spent."

You can read full coverage in the Evening Standard, the Docklands & East London Advertiser and the Wharf website.

The Catford Central blog reports that TfL will start work this year on improvements to the Tiger's Head junction - and highlights Caroline's questions to the Mayor that prompted TfL to finally take action.

Read the full article here.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group Leader, working alongside local MP Simon Hughes, is urging the Mayor to ensure that vital improvements are completed to the junction of Abbey Street and Tower Bridge Road within just a few months

After receiving a reply to a recent question (see below) Caroline Pidgeon has now written to the Mayor urging immediate action is taken and seeking assurances from Boris Johnson that the improvements will not be delayed by Transport for London (TfL) until after the Olympic Games.

Caroline Pidgeon said:
“TfL has a long record of dragging its feet when it comes to improving junctions for pedestrians and cyclists.

"It is vital that this does not take place with this junction. Some very basic safety improvements must be completed to this junction within just a few months – at the very latest. There can be no excuses for TfL delaying much needed safety improvements due to the Olympics.”