London-wide + Wandsworth stories

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

Caroline formally raises Northern Line Extension concerns to TfL

Responding to Transport for London's consultation on the extension of the Northern Line to Battersea, Caroline Pidgeon has set out concerns in a number of areas:

  • The value-for-money case for this scheme compared to alternatives
  • Capacity on the Northern Line and at Kennington station
  • Temporary shafts
  • Kennington Park shaft
  • Noise mitigation measures
  • Local area improvements
  • Considerate construction
21 December 2012 - 8:18pm

Overground link is welcome - but we need the South London Line back

Caroline was joined by Simon Hughes MP trying out the new London Overground Service from Surrey Quays in Rotherhithe to Clapham Junction. The team went out on the new route on its first day of operation on Sunday 9th December. Simon and Caroline had also been out the day before supporting local campaigners against the final day of the South London Line from Victoria to London Bridge. The new line does allow many more journeys to be made in Zone 2 avoiding busy Zone 1.

15 December 2012 - 11:44pm

Good news on Waterloo ex-Eurostar platforms - but we need more

Speaking as the government announced that one of Waterloo's former Eurostar platforms can be used from May 2013 for commuter services, Caroline Pidgeon said:

"It is clearly good news that at least one platform is now to be brought back into use to help relieve overcrowding.

"We now need to see a timetable for when the other platforms will be open."

Read the South London Press's coverage here.

12 January 2012 - 11:50pm

Reopening of former Eurostar platform at Waterloo is a welcome step

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport spokesperson, today welcomed the announcement by Transport Secretary Justine Greening MP that passengers on some lines serving commuters on a number of the busiest rail routes from south west London into Waterloo are set to benefit from extra carriages to ease overcrowding, and that one platform at the former Waterloo International Station is to be reopened for commuter services.

Commenting on the decision, Caroline Pidgeon said:

23 December 2011 - 9:23pm

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

Out and about in Battersea

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Lib Dem Mayoral Candidate Brian Paddick and Merton and Wandsworth Lib Dem Candidate Lisa Smart out and about in Battersea on 5th December, along with other local residents including Battersea Lib Dem Chair Richard Davis.

The team looked at the works to make Clapham Junction station accessible, as well as ways to improve cycling in the area and the impact of the riots on local businesses.

23 December 2011 - 8:24pm

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

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