London-wide + Tower Hamlets stories

Campaigning in Tower Hamlets

Caroline Pidgeon was out with the Liberal Democrat London Assembly candidate for the City and East London Elaine Bagshaw in Tower Hamlets. They were talking to local people in Chrisp Street Market about half price fares before half seven, the Lib Dem home building plans and the fact that Tower Hamlets Borough has £70 million of unspent money through planning gain.

Mayor must now come clean over plans for Night Buses

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson, commenting on the announcement that the launch of the Night Tube has been deferred, said:

"This is a big climb down for the Mayor. His retreat is entirely due to his error in setting a specific start date before all the staffing arrangements and other issues had been settled.

"By pushing for a set start date the Mayor strengthened the union’s negotiating position.

New junction at Cycle Superhighway 2 is welcome, but far more junctions across still need action

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson, commenting on Transport for London’s announcement today that a new type of road junction designed to make it safer and easier for cyclists to turn left will be provided on Cycle Superhighway 2 at Whitechapel Road and Cambridge Heath Road, said:

"While it is regrettable that serious mistakes were made with the initial Superhighway 2 it is very welcome that such innovate designs and safety measures are now being adopted.

One Hour Bus Ticket: a long-standing focus for Caroline and the Lib Dems

Dave Hill's London blog in the Guardian looks at the proposal by potential Labour mayoral candidate Christian Wolmar for a bus ticket valid over multiple journeys for an hour - and points out that this has been a long-standing policy of Caroline Pidgeon and the London Assembly Liberal Democrats:

Upsurge in lift problems at Tube stations harms freedom to travel

Caroline Pidgeon's questions to the Mayor have revealed that between 2013 and 2014, the hours lost due to lift closures on the Tube have risen by 50%, harming the freedom to travel of disabled people and those who depend on step-free access. The main reason was the lack of available trained staff to operate lifts.

Caroline said:

Brunel Bridge from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf is desperately needed

Welcoming the news that TfL and local business have made £200,000 available for a detailed feasibility study into a bridge from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf, Caroline Pidgeon told the SE16 website:

“Unlike the Garden Bridge this is a bridge that is desperately needed and where public money should be spent.

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.”

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.

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