Caroline visited Camden Borough on Friday 12th April to see first hand local issues that are of concern to local communities and local Lib Dem Councillors.
Caroline started her visit looking at the potential impact of HS2 near Camden Town and the very busy and potentially dangerous main roads for cyclists and pedestrians with Councillors Chris Naylor, Paul Braithwaite and Keith Moffit. (Read more here in the Camden New Journal. Caroline is working with a cross party group of members of the House of Lords looking at a potential alternative for the London end of HS2 which would not have such a damaging impact in Camden around Euston and on the London Overground service.
Caroline then went to visit Belsize Fire Station, one of the 12 under threat of closure by Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson. Caroline spoke with local councillor Tom Simon and local residents about their safety concerns
The team then headed to West Hampstead to discuss the desperate need for a proper transport interchange between rail, overground and the underground and full lift access at West Hampstead. Caroline met local residents and Cllr Flick Rea, Cllr John Bryant, Cllr Gillian Riso-Gill and Cllr Keith Moffitt.
Caroline then saw first hand the boarded up old cottages at the fire station in Hampstead which for many years the Lib Dems at City Hall and on the Fire Authority have proposed bringing back into use for affordable housing.
The team finally went to Hampstead to protest with local Cllr Linda Chung and local residents against the Mayor’s plan to close this much needed local police station.
“There are so many issues in Camden, with the Mayor’s planned police and fire cuts really having a huge impact on local communities. I will continue to work with local councillors to protect local front line services” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.