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London-wide + Waltham Forest stories

Talking transport in Waltham Forest

29 January 2012 - 5:36pm — Administrator

Caroline joined local Liberal Democrats in Cann Hall at a public meeting to discuss public transport in the area. Many residents came along to raise concerns from the impact of the Olympics on local streets to issues with bus routes 257 and 58.

The team also heard about problems with the Central Line and TfL’s attitude towards working with community groups to improve bus routes and services.

Caroline will be taking up a number of issues from the meeting.

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.

Liverpool St commuters overcharged £1.6m on Oyster in 2010

19 March 2011 - 8:55pm — Administrator

The East London Advertiser and the Essex Enquirer have articles about the £1.6m in Oyster card overcharges for Liverpool Street commuters in 2010, as revealed in the Mayor's answer to a question from Caroline Pidgeon.

Read the Advertiser's full article here, and the Essex Enquirer's article here.

Assembly team explores noise impact of City Airport

19 June 2010 - 8:52pm — Administrator

On Thursday 10 June Caroline joined other Assembly Members on a visit to meet residents who live near City Airport to hear their concerns about noise and pollution. The members then went and visited City Airport to talk to their Chief Executive and team about their plans and ways they work with the community.

"It was interesting to see around City Airport and to talk to local people about the impact it has on their lives. It is clear that all noise from airplanes using different airports needs to be mapped together in one place so that we can really understand the noise impact of London's airports on different parts of the capital," commented Caroline Pidgeon.

Ticket office cuts in Epping Forest

1 April 2010 - 8:48pm — Administrator

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem London Assembly Member and Chair of the Transport Committee, met with campaigners to find out what the impact would be of Boris Johnson's plans to reduce the opening times at four of Epping Forest's Underground Stations.

During the meeting, arranged by the Liberal Democrat parliamentary campaigner Councillor Ann Haigh, Caroline spoke with many residents outside two of the affected stations, Buckhurst Hill and Epping.

Along with other local Liberal Democrats including Councillors Peter Spencer and Janet Whitehouse, Ann Haigh and Caroline Pidgeon handed out hundreds of petition slips to commuters.

Incredible progress on the Olympics site

22 February 2010 - 8:24pm — Administrator

Caroline went on a trip around the Olympics site on Friday 19th February, to look at the progress that is being made on transforming this huge site into the Olympic Park.

“The progress since I last visited two years ago is incredible. The design of the aquatics centre, velodrome and stadium is quite exceptional. I can’t wait to see the finished venues!” said Caroline Pidgeon.

Caroline speaks to Leyton and Wanstead Lib Dems

13 December 2009 - 8:23pm — Administrator

Caroline was the guest speaker at Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats’ AGM in November.

The rise in bus fares of 20%, threats to the Freedom Pass and concerns about City Airport noise and expansion were just some of the issues discussed.

Lib Dems oppose doubling flights from City Airport

6 October 2009 - 7:44pm — Administrator

Leyton & Wanstead Liberal Democrats last Friday hosted a public meeting about the expansion at which London LibDem MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford and London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon spoke and a debate was held. Campaign groups 'Fight the Flights' and the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) were also represented.

Newham Council recently agreed a more than doubling of flights from London City Airport from the current level of 73,000 flights a year. They are permitting 120,000 by the end of this year and 170,000 by the end of 2010. It is in fact believed (by Fight the Flights) that a further bid for 217,000 flights is contemplated, which would be a tripling of present capacity.

Campaigning for a new bus route in Waltham Forest

30 April 2009 - 9:24pm — Administrator

Higham Hill Lib Dem ward councillors Peter Woollcott, Patrick Smith and Sean Meiszner, have been campaigning for a new route between Highams Park station and Tottenham Hale for years.

They argue that as the area is one of the most deprived in the country, and more than a mile from Walthamstow Central Station, a route is desperately needed.

The group met with Lib Dem London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon on Thursday who will lobby the mayor and Transport for London (TfL).

Mr Woollcott said the route would bring much benefit to the area.

He said: “There are proposals to build 240 homes in Sutherland Road, 600 in Banbury Park, and the possible Walthamstow Stadium development, so we need facilities in place now.

Caroline raises safety concerns of Chingford bus users

27 March 2009 - 9:34pm — Administrator

Road safety issues for bus passengers on Station Road were top of the agenda when Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, met Chingford residents outside Chingford bus and rail station earlier this week. Caroline Pidgeon visited the site after an invitation from Geoff Seeff, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green.

After the meeting, which was also attended by officers from Transport for London (TfL) Caroline commented:

"It is deeply worrying that passengers are required to get off the 97 and 179 buses on Station Road itself and then have to cross a busy road from between parked cars to get to the rail station. A serious accident is waiting to happen here. We need to find a way for buses to put down passengers safely in the bus station itself with proper provision for wheelchair users.