Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon AM has joined David Sant and Islington Liberal Democrats out and about in the St Peter’s ward by-election.

Caroline has been out campaigning with David Sant and London Assembly candidate Bridget Fox talking to local residents to hear the issues that they are concerned about in their area.

“It is quite clear that local residents want a strong local champion to represent them at the town hall. David Sant is a governor at North Community School and is the only candidate to live in the ward. He is just the person St Peter’s ward needs” commented Caroline.

Thames Water bosses have been severely criticised by Caroline Pidgeon following a water burst that paralysed rail travel across a large swathe of the South-East on 1st August.

An estimated 80,000 pasengers faced hours of chaos and delays after a Thames Water pipe triggered a landslide that blocked a key commuter route in and out of Victoria.

Caroline has now written to Thames Water asking them to introduce some form of compensation for the thousands of passengers that faced what many people have described as nightmare journeys.

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined College Ward Cllr Lewis Robinson, local resident Tania Wallden and an engineer from Transport for London to look at the various problems on the South Circular at the junction of Alleyn Park. The site visit followed a meeting earlier in the year where Cllr Robinson explained the problems at this junction as well as other transport concerns with Transport for London.

Since Transport for London removed railings along the side of the pavement at this dangerous corner, local residents have seen many accidents including several where cars have mounted the pavement and hit the boundary walls and fences of properties, causing real damage. Transport for London has responded to this by adding various bits of street clutter to try to resolve the problem.

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on today’s announcement that London's cycle hire scheme will expand into west and south-west London over the next two years, said:

“Everyone wants to see the cycle hire scheme expanded. The scheme’s expansion is obviously great news for the areas of London that will now be covered, but the Mayor should have today told Londoners which other areas will get the cycle hire scheme as it is expanded in future years.

“The Mayor also needs to answer a key question - why has the sponsorship arrangement with Barclays has been so casually extended for a further three years, instead of being put out to a competitive tender when the five year contract expires in 2015?

Caroline Pidgeon AM was contacted recently by Olympia Venues about the cancellation without consultation of the weekday District line service to their nearest station. The changes are scheduled to take place from December. Not only are local businesses such as Olympia upset by this, so are many local residents who currently use this service.

Caroline therefore arranged a site visit for the people from Olympia, a local resident who has been campaigning on the issue, and Richard Parry, a Director at London Underground and Rail, to look at the issues first hand and try to reach a solution.