London-wide + Kensington and Chelsea stories
We need more Youth Hubs like the Harrow Club
28 April 2012 - 9:54am — Administrator
On Wednesday Caroline Pidgeon joined London Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown and met young people to talk about issues that concern them and about the Lib Dem plans for Youth Hubs in every Borough In London
The visit took place at Harrow Club in Ladbroke Grove and included a chat with the group Hard Talking Ex-Cons, reformed ex-offenders who formed the group to work with youngsters and encourage them to follow the right path.
The club is a wonderful place for young people to go and such clubs should be supported across London.
Out and about in Kensington and Chelsea
21 April 2012 - 10:13am — Administrator
Caroline joined local Assembly Candidate Layla Moran and local Lib Dem Councillors Carol Caruana and Tim Jones and local Lib Dem members out talking to residents in Colville Road, near Portobello market.
The team got a great response and local residents clearly appreciate their hard working local council team!
Out and about in Earls Court
21 April 2012 - 10:11am — Administrator
Caroline joined local Assembly Candidate Layla Moran, Cllr Linda Wade and local residents to discuss the huge issues with the planned Earl’s Court development.
There are clearly really serious concerns particularly about the impact on local transport infrastructure including the roads and the tube, which TfL and the Boroughs do not seem to be taking seriously.
Caroline committed to continue to work with Cllr Linda Wade and local residents on this issue.
River Thames is a great opportunity for transport
23 December 2011 - 8:55pm — Administrator
The River Thames is a forgotten highway, a tube line effectively, across the centre of London and yet under-resourced in terms of transport.
In January, the London Assembly Transport Committee is looking into river transport services - so Caroline and other Committee members spent a chilly morning in early December out and about on the river with Thames Clippers from Putney to Erith, looking at the challenges and opportunities to really expand river transport services for Londoners.
Olympia business and residents face Tube service loss
22 July 2011 - 7:54pm — Administrator
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.
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.
Campaigining in Kensington and Chelsea
20 April 2011 - 9:13pm — Administrator
Caroline joined the local Kensington and Chelsea Lib Dems in Colville ward on Monday 11th April talking to residents about local issues and, of course, the Fairer Votes referendum on 5th May.
“It was really great to catch up with residents in Colville, including local people in Ruston Mews and to see the noise barrier that is being built as part of works to the tube station, an issue I have helped Cllr Carol Caruana and the team with”, commented Caroline.
Life-saving centre threatened with closure
16 March 2011 - 11:37pm — AdministratorCaroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem leader on the London Assembly, has backed an Assembly motion warning that closing the children’s heart surgery unit at the Royal Brompton Hospital will have serious consequences for people with heart and lung conditions.
Abolition of Western Extension Charge is long overdue
20 October 2010 - 9:02pm — AdministratorCaroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s confirmation that the Western Extension Zone (WEZ) will be abolished from Christmas Eve said:
“This is long overdue and very welcome. The WEZ was a serious mistake from the very outset. The WEZ has diluted the initial aims of the original zone by enticing Londoners to drive into central London on a daily basis.
“It is utter madness that some of richest Londoners can drive into central London for just 80 pence a day when everyone else faces a daily Congestion Charge of £8.
Lib Dems highlight shameful safety risks of Earl's Court crossing
1 September 2010 - 8:12pm — Administrator
Earl's Court has been revealed as having one of London's most inaccessible and unsafe pedestrian crossings.
Research by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, shows that a pedestrian crossing on Earl's Court Road (junction with Bramham Gardens and Earl's Court Square) is one of a handful in London that are not only breaking national safety standards over the minimum time for pedestrians to cross the road but is also failing to provide any assistance for blind people to cross the road.
Caroline, who obtained the information following a series of written questions to the Mayor of London, said:
"At present the Mayor of London seems to put the interests of pedestrians at the very bottom of his priorities. It is simply shameful that there remain pedestrian crossings in London that are so inaccessible and unsafe.
"The Mayor should ensure as a matter of urgency that every pedestrian crossing in London is safe and accessible for everyone."
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