London-wide + Hounslow stories

Step-free access to half London's stations is not enough

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on today’s announcement that half of TfL’s rail and Underground stations will be step-free by 2018, said:

“Any progress on making more TfL rail and Underground stations step-free is obviously welcome.

“However we can hardly be complacent when the reality is that in three years’ time half of all TfL rail and Underground will still be permanently inaccessible to disabled people and the many other people who require step free access.”

17 June 2015 - 4:18pm

Police must properly engage with the public on body camera trial

As a Freedom Of Information request revealed that just one person has given feedback to the Metropolitan Police's consultation of the use of body-worn cameras by officers, Caroline Pidgeon said:

“The technology should make the police more accountable to the public and help route out police malpractices committed by a very small minority of police officers.

3 April 2015 - 12:33am

Against Heathrow expansion

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Vince Cable MP speaking at a rally organised by HACAN against expansion at Heathrow on Tuesday 3rd March.

"Given that there are 725,000 people affected by noise from Heathrow – no other airport in Europe comes close to this figure. AND a new runway would mean an additional 150,000 people under the flight path. It is simply unthinkable that a third runway could be built at Heathrow" commented Caroline.

Other key messages from Caroline's speech include:

"Existing capacity in the south east must be used more effectively. In summer 2012, 47% of runway slots at Stansted weren’t used, 51% at Luton, and 12% at Gatwick. Instead of a new runway at Heathrow, we should be prioritising improved rail links to the airports that already have spare capacity. It’s good to see that the line to Stansted will be four-tracked in the not too distant future."

"Even at Heathrow, though it is full, we know the terminals can handle a further 20 million passengers a year. Heathrow could look to shift to more long-haul flights or larger aircraft to increase passengers."

15 March 2015 - 10:32am

Cycle incident analysis exposes TFL's failure to invest in safe cycling infrastructure

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on a report by the insurance company Aviva which has analysed police road traffic collision data between 2009 to 2013 on London’s roads, said:

These figures confirm that cycling around many gyratories and especially roundabouts such as the Elephant and Castle is nothing less than a Tour de Danger for cyclists.

1 March 2015 - 9:17pm

Save our London neighbourhood policing

The London Assembly today urged Mayor Boris Johnson to halt his plans to dilute police Safer Neighbourhood Teams and recklessly close police front counters across London.

The Assembly's motion calls on the Mayor to retain the existing neighbourhood policing model of a dedicated sergeant, supported by two Constables and three Police Community Support Officers, allocated to each ward in London.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, who seconded the motion, said:

“Londoners value their local police stations and the local, recognisable police teams dedicated to serving their ward. Shutting up cop shops to public access and destroying the local policing model risks setting policing back more than a decade and separating the police from their communities.”

3 March 2013 - 8:46pm

Mayor should admit he is decimating Safer Neigbourhood Teams

Caroline Pidgeon AM, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s response today to her questions about the future of Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) across London, where he failed to recognise that there would be a reduction in dedicated police officers for each safer neighbourhood team, said:

“The Mayor should come clean with Londoners and admit that he is decimating the current and successful model for safer neighbourhood teams.

16 January 2013 - 11:49pm

Turnham Green residents need more Piccadilly trains

Caroline Pidgeon has pressed the Mayor once again to ensure local residents have their voice heard to communicate how valuable it would be for more Piccadilly Line trains to stop at Turnham Green.

Ealing Lib Dem Councillor Gary Malcolm said: "The team of Liberal Democrat councillors in Southfield have been working hard with Caroline Pidgeon to get a consultation so that City Hall and the Mayor can hear the residents' need for Piccadilly Line tubes to stop at Turnham Green station. It may be a slow process but we will not give up until it happens!"

14 July 2012 - 11:06am

Visit to Brompton Bicycles

Caroline Pidgeon AM was joined by Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes MP on Monday 9th May on a visit to see the home and factory for Brompton folding bicycles which are made in Hounslow, just near Kew Bridge.

"It was fascinating to hear how the company has grown and now employs around 160 people. With cycling on the increase and more people wanting quality folding bicycles, it is no wonder that the factory needs to move. I hope that the company is able to expand and to keep employing so many people in a wide range of engineering and other bicycle making roles" commented Caroline.

11 July 2012 - 11:20pm

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