London-wide + Bromley stories
Blackheath Bonfire Night passengers should check for overcharging
4 January 2012 - 9:31pm — AdministratorThe South London Press reports on the overcharging suffered by many passengers who travelled from Blackheath station after the fireworks display on 5th November - when station staff taped over the card readers at the station.
Caroline commented:
"Many would be unaware they had been overcharged and, for those who were, the onus was on them to collect the overcharged amount.
"It beggars belief Southeastern merely taped over the Oyster readers leading to so many people being overcharged on their Oyster cards."
Out and about in Bromley
5 December 2011 - 9:56pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon AM was the guest speaker at Orpington Liberal Democrats' AGM on Saturday 19th November.
Caroline discussed the London election campaign and the key issues which the London Assembly group had been working on, such as exposing the Mayor’s record on cycle safety and cutting bus capacity.
Assembly demands answers over passengers' Southeastern ordeal
1 July 2011 - 4:57pm — AdministratorThe London Assembly’s Transport Committee, led by Caroline Pidgeon has written to Southeastern trains seeking an explanation for the severe delays yesterday evening, and how passengers – some of whom left the train and walked along the tracks to escape the sweltering conditions – will be compensated.
A broken down train in Dartford caused significant delays to Southeastern services during the evening rush hour, and left passengers on one train stuck just outside Bexleyheath for almost two hours on the hottest day of the year.
Making London's roads safer for cyclists
30 May 2011 - 3:39pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon is continuing to support action to tackle the high number of accidents and fatalities that face cyclists on London's roads. London faces an especially serious problem with accidents involving collisions between lorries and cyclists at junctions.
A recent question asked by Caroline to the Mayor revealed that in 2009 six cyclists were killed on London's roads in accidents involving a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV), and with a further two cyclists killed in accidents involving a refuse lorry and a cement mixer. In 2010 there were two cyclists killed in accidents involving vehicles and two further two fatal collisions including a skip lorry and a cement truck.
Caroline has already given her full support to the campaign by the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) for better training for lorry drivers and recently received the petition that had already gathered more than 10,000 signatures. Read more information about the campaign here.
Southeastern's Olympic cuts to train services challenged
15 May 2011 - 5:50pm — AdministratorCaroline Pidgeon has sharply criticised Southeastern's plans to scale back local train services during the 2012 Games. Commenting on Southeastern's proposals to reduce the frequency of some train services and to even remove some stations from their timetable, Caroline said:
"Ensuring more people can get into London to visit Olympic venues will of course create challenges for Southeastern, however Southeastern's approach to tackling these challenges is completely wrong. Putting on extra carriages and extra staff at stations is the best way to ensure that the needs of local commuters and visitors are both met, while ensuring a reliable service is also maintained.
"Southeastern must listen to the outrage they have created amongst residents in Greenwich and Deptford and back down over their completely daft proposals."
Biggin Hill 320 bus problems
19 March 2011 - 9:14pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon AM joined local resident and former Bromley Councillor Bob Shekyls and an officer from Transport for London to look at the issues faced by residents in Biggin Hill Valley with the 320 bus route.
The route was extended from Bromley to Catford last year and since then the bus has become completely unreliable. Bob showed Caroline and TfL the problem places along the route, such as the stop by Biggin Hill Airport where buses sometimes turn around instead of completing the route to Biggin Hill Valley, leaving passengers stranded, a long way from their end destination.
Why are Southeastern repeating the same mistakes again?
5 December 2010 - 8:51pm — AdministratorCaroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the widespread failure of Southeastern to provide accurate information to its passengers over the last two days of snowfall, including many of its information boards at its stations not even working, said:
“Back in January during the two days of snow Southeastern passengers faced a double whammy of a much reduced train service combined with an appalling lack of useful information being provided by the train company.
Afternoon tea in Bromley
2 September 2010 - 9:04pm — Administrator
Caroline was the guest speaker at a summer afternoon tea on Saturday 21st August at the Liberal Club in Orpington.
Caroline was welcomed by Cllr David McBride, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bromley Council, and spent the afternoon chatting to local members and supporters.
“I was delighted to be invited to speak to members at the Orpington Liberal Club. We discussed the performance of the Mayor of London and where Lib Dem Assembly members have really made a difference, campaigning on issues such as a One Hour Bus Ticket, a clean air zone for London and fair police recruitment”
New London Overground line opens in East London
28 May 2010 - 10:24pm — Administrator
Lib Dem London Transport Spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon AM, joined Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Simon Hughes with Southwark Lib Dem Leader Cllr Anood Al-Samerai, Cllr Wilma Nelson and other local supporters on a trip up and down the new London Overground line which opened on Sunday 23rd May.
The team started at Surrey Quays and went up to Dalston Junction in Hackney, before having a café break in Hoxton going south. The team finished up in Crystal Palace.
“The new service is really impressive. However, not all of the trains had any air cooling systems working which on such a hot day meant the trains were rather hot – something I’ll be taking up with the Mayor!” commented Caroline.
Looking forward to the new East London Line
4 February 2010 - 8:39pm — Administrator
On Thursday 28th January Caroline went on a visit to look at the new East London Line Extension works and to view the extension of the Docklands Light Railway.
Caroline visited New Cross Gate Depot and saw the new trains for the line, as well as looking at the new station and works at Shoreditch.
The DLR visit included a trip out to Stratford and down to Woolwich via City Airport.
“The extension of the DLR and the works on the new East London Line were very impressive and it is great to see so much investment going into public transport. I can’t wait for the East London Line to reopen” said Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon.
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