London-wide + Kensington and Chelsea stories

We need more Youth Hubs like the Harrow Club

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.

28 April 2012 - 10:54am

Out and about in Kensington and Chelsea

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!

21 April 2012 - 11:13am

Out and about in Earls Court

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.

21 April 2012 - 11:11am

River Thames is a great opportunity for transport

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.

23 December 2011 - 8:55pm

Accessibility of London's transport network still falls short

The London Assembly Transport Committee has published a report in response to TfL’s new proposals on transport accessibility, showing that step-free access and other accessibility measures fall far short of the growing need for them, with half of bus stops, two thirds of rail stations, and three quarters of tube stations, not fully accessible to people with limited mobility.

The report argues for a range of measures, including low-cost steps such as allowing manual ramps, upgrading pedestrian crossings, providing better training for bus drivers, and improving online and paper maps.

21 October 2011 - 7:53pm

Four years of fare misery under Boris Johnson

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on Boris Johnson’s fare proposals for 2012, which he confirmed today will be set at RPI plus 2 per cent, said:

“This is the fourth year of fare misery that Londoners will face under Boris Johnson.

“He has already hit Londoners hard by hiking up bus fares from 90 pence to £1.30 for a single fare since he arrived at City Hall. Today’s further rise will really hit hard many people, especially those on low incomes.

“Boris Johnson has failed to tackle effective action to tackle fare evasion or cut waste which is widespread throughout TfL. If the Mayor got on top of these issues there would be no need for such severe fare rises, especially for low income Londoners.

14 September 2011 - 10:12pm

The Big Switch – Lib Dems call for London’s buses and taxis to go electric

A Big Switch to electric buses and taxis can cut London’s appalling air pollution, dramatically reduce premature deaths and ill health, and help meet climate change targets. The London Assembly Liberal Democrats have put forward an ambitious programme to convert high mileage buses, taxis and light goods vehicles to electric power by 2020. The plan was launched with Caroline Pidgeon AM and Mike Tuffrey AM with support from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP.

4 August 2011 - 8:58pm

Olympia business and residents face Tube service loss

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.

22 July 2011 - 8:54pm

Assembly Transport Committee will review bank card payment plans

The London Assembly Transport Committee is reviewing TfL’s plans to make London the first city in the world where contactless payment is available on the entire transport network – starting with buses from spring next year.

The Committee will assess the benefits and the risks of using contactless bank cards to pay for travel, both for passengers and for Transport for London. TfL expects contactless cards will be cheaper to operate than Oyster, but the Committee will investigate security concerns that have been raised.

Chair of the Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon AM, said:
“Transport for London has big plans for the future of ticketing in the capital, but any changes must be geared towards increasing convenience and value for passengers.

“Security is also an issue. The use of contactless bank cards will be seen as a step forward by some people, but others may be reluctant to flash their debit or credit card at a ticket gate.

“We will review the benefits and risks of TfL’s short and long-term ticketing plans to ensure they are right for London.”

19 July 2011 - 9:33pm

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