Caroline Pidgeon

For many years, Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes and Lib Dem Councillors have been campaigning for improvements in the Kennington area, particularly around the tube station.

This area can all too often seem forgotten as it sits on the boundary between Lambeth and Southwark, with Transport for London in charge of Kennington Park Road.

For many people this area is the gateway to Southwark, and yet the environment around the tube station is not welcoming enough.

Your Lib Dem Team have launched a five point action plan calling for:

1. Improvements to the pavements;
2. More secure cycle parking
3. Better street lights
4. Improvements to the road surface for all road users particularly cyclists; and
5. Kennington Tube Station to be re-zoned from Zone 2 to a boundary 1/2 station.

The London SE1 website reports on Transport for London's announcement that it will finally provide replacement bus services to Waterloo during weekends when the Jubilee line is closed.

Caroline Pidgeon, who raised this issue with the Mayor several months ago, commented:

I welcome TfL's long-awaited replacement bus service which includes Waterloo. Despite the Mayor's previous claims that this was not possible it clearly can be done.

It is just a pity that such poor excuses were previously made by the Mayor. It is local people who have continued to suffer unnecessary inconvenience.

The full story is here.

Caroline Pidgeon has joined Streatham Liberal Democrats in calling for First Capital Connect (FCC) to improve its service for users of Thameslink from Streatham and Tulse Hill stations or lose its franchise. Their call comes in the light of continued cancellation of trains, delays and timetable restrictions which have been going on for months but have worsened since Christmas.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham Chris Nicholson said,
"The service being provided is completely unacceptable. It is particularly difficult for commuters have to wait ages for trains or buses in this freezing weather. Caroline Pidgeon and I are seeking an urgent meeting with First Capital Connect. Unless we get satisfactory answers to what is being done to restore a full service I will be asking the Department for Transport to consider stripping FCC of its franchise."

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat Chair of the Greater London Assembly Transport Committee added,
"I am getting reports all along the Thameslink line of the hardship that this is causing commuters. First Capital Connect must improve, and improve quickly!"

The new nature trail in Kennington Park was unveiled on Saturday 31st October by the Mayor of Lambeth.

On the borders of Lambeth and Southwark, the Park has been transformed thanks to the hard work of the Friends of Kennington Park.

Cllr Caroline Pidgeon joined Simon Hughes MP, Lib Dem Vassall Campaigner Matthew Hanney, Cllr Daphne Marchant and Cllr Rob Banks at the celebratory opening.

“Many congratulations to the Friends of Kennington Park who have worked tirelessly and sought funding from every possible source to ensure the park gets the investment it needs such as the wonderful play area, fitness trail and now the new nature trail,” commented Caroline Pidgeon.