In the news articles

Cable car is still failing Londoners

15 June 2013 - 8:00am — Administrator

Commenting on figures from TfL showing that the Thames cable car has been closed 69 times between July 2012 and April 2013 - not including a week's planned closure in March, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

"These figures show just how unreliable the Thames cable car is as a form of public transport.

"If a year ago anyone suggested that the Thames cable car would have to close for over 216 hours in its first nine months of operating they would be accused of wild scaremongering.

Good news for south-east London on Crossrail

24 May 2013 - 7:13pm — Administrator

Commenting on the news that funding has been very nearly agreed for the £75m Crossrail station in Woolwich, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

“If an agreement is close to finally being reached for the funding of a Crossrail Woolwich station, that is clearly great news. The failure to deliver a station would be an absolute betrayal for people in south-east London, denying them the improved transport links and economic benefits that Crossrail is set to bring to so many other places.”

Assembly report says London's airport capacity is underused

5 May 2013 - 10:09pm — Administrator

Airport capacity in London is currently underused, with some of London's airports having more than half their runway slots free, says a new London Assembly report. Even Heathrow – at 99 per cent runway capacity – might potentially fly an additional 20 million passengers every year if larger aircraft were used.

The Transport Committee’s report – Airport Capacity in London – suggests existing airport capacity in London, including at busier Heathrow and Gatwick airports, could be used more effectively.

Its reasearch shows:

£160,000 wasted on the Mayor's self-promotion

27 April 2013 - 7:41pm — Administrator

The BBC reports on the Mayor's plan to spend £160,000... "to find out why many people do not know what he does"!

Caroline Pidgeon told the BBC:
"The Mayor of London already has a large press office and Transport for London devote huge resources to promoting him as well.

"It beggars belief that anyone seriously thinks additional public money should be spent on promoting the Mayor or defending his policies.

"This appears to have more to do with the Mayor's wider national ambitions than what is proper for London taxpayers."

£150k spent on hidden cable car polling

27 April 2013 - 7:38pm — Administrator

Responding to the news that Transport for London has spent £150,000 on surveying the public about the Thames cable car - and refusing to publish the results - Caroline Pidgeon commented:

"If it insists on conducting such extensive polling it should at the very least ensure the public can see all of the information they have paid for, it begs the question what are they hiding?

"It is simply wrong for a public body such as TfL to spend a fortune on polling and then cherry pick the results they publish."

£55m on Oyster cards should be returned to the public

18 April 2013 - 7:50pm — Administrator

Speaking to the London Loves Business website on figures that show that £55m is lying unused on Oyster cards that have not been used in over a year, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

"The slight decline in TfL’s cash pile is welcome, but it is time far more of this money was returned to the public.

“Transport for London has a huge media and publicity machine. It is time they put this to good use and ensured that everyone knows that they are entitled to obtain a refund on any unused Oyster cards."

£500,000 extra New Year's Eve bill for taxpayers revealed

14 April 2013 - 5:22pm — Administrator

Commenting on the emerging news that the Mayor approved an additional £500k of public money to fund the New Year's Eve fireworks after the withdrawal of a sponsor, Lib Dem London Assembly leader Caroline Pidgeon said:

“The Mayor needs to explain why he initially signed a decision which allowed a contractor who secured a public contract to turn around at the eleventh hour and demand £500,000 more.

“The Mayor also needs to explain why these appalling decisions have been kept secret from Londoners for so long.”

Rotherhithe Tunnel restrictions risk gridlock

23 March 2013 - 9:38pm — Administrator

Commenting on the traffic problems building up around Rotherhithe Tunnel since the introduction of a poorly announced restriction on wide vehicles, Caroline Pidgeon said:

“Despite Transport for London having a year to prepare for the start of this policy it seems very few people are aware of this new ban on wide vehicles being allowed through the Rotherhithe Tunnel.

Part-time Travelcard campaign finally gets a hearing

11 March 2013 - 12:12am — Administrator

A long standing Liberal Democrat fare policy to introduce a travelcard for people who work part-time is now being examined by Transport for London the Mayor has confirmed this week.

Caroline challenged the Mayor to consider this policy in January at Mayor's Question Time and in recent correspondence the Mayor has now confirmed that the idea is now being examined by Transport for London.

Explaining why a part-time travelcard would bring real benefits, Caroline said:

River transport reality is a big gap from the Mayor's rhetoric

11 March 2013 - 12:09am — Administrator

Commenting to the Snipe London website on the news that the number of commuters using the Thames has actually gone down over the last 10 years, despite the Mayor's promises, Caroline Pidgeon said:

"There is a big gap in the Mayor’s rhetoric on river services and his real record so far. Having waited so long for the Mayor’s river action plan it is vital that it is fully implemented as quickly as possible. More money will be needed than the £10 million allocated.

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