Campaigning articles

Caroline backs 110 bus rerouting through Whitton

Caroline Pidgeon is backing a campaign by Vince Cable MP to reroute the 110 bus route through Whitton. Caroline has already received a huge petition of over 2000 signatures from local residents which she will present at Mayor's Question Time in May. In the meantime, she has also written to the Mayor urging him to consider extending the bus route.

Vince Cable has also this week met a delegation from Transport for London to persuade them of the case for the extended bus route.

8 April 2010 - 10:05pm

Launching Simon Hughes's re-election campaign

Caroline joined Southwark Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes MP and special guest Theo Paphitis, from Dragon’s Den fame and former Chair of Millwall Football Club, to launch the Southwark Liberal Democrat campaign for the Council, and Simon Hughes's re-election campaign for Bermondsey and Old Southwark.

“It was wonderful to see so many local members and residents who came to support Simon and the team, as well as to meet Theo” said Caroline.

1 April 2010 - 10:10pm

Caroline campaigns with Ealing and Hounslow Lib Dems for better Turnham Green services

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem London Assemly Member, joined local Liberal Democrats for a large 'demo' outside Turnham Green Tube Station, continuing the Lib Dems' their campaign to get Piccadilly Line tubes to stop there all day.

Councillor Gary Malcolm handed a document to Caroline Pidgeon, which she will pass to the Mayor of London asking for a meeting to discuss the possibilities of a 6 month trial to extend the short early morning and late evening stops at the station (which are often unannounced so customers either get to the wrong destination or miss out).

1 April 2010 - 9:56pm

Ticket office cuts in Epping Forest

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.

1 April 2010 - 9:48pm

Nick Clegg gives keynote speech at Elephant and Castle

In March Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats came to the Salvation Army at the Elephant and Castle to deliver a keynote speech on poverty.

Nick Clegg declared that schools are at the heart of his vision for fairness. He said: “Under our plans smaller classes won’t be a privilege reserved for the rich. Our Pupil Premium raises the funding per pupil for poorer children to the same levels as the money spent per pupil in private schools. Head teachers can use that money to have smaller classes, like in fee paying schools, taking our poorest children a huge leap towards an education they would otherwise never be able to afford.”

He also attacked the Tories for failing to spell out their plans: “The Conservatives have also promised to target funding towards disadvantaged pupils. But they have committed precisely no pounds and no pence.

1 April 2010 - 9:43pm

We need answers on Surrey Canal Road station

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on a recent statement by Peter Hendy (Commissioner of Transport for London) that a firm commitment has still not been received from central Government for an additional £7 million funding contribution towards a new station being built at Surrey Canal Road said:

“This is seriously bad news for North Lewisham and for South Bermondsey.

“Despite predictions that a new station would be used by 1.3 million passengers a year and help bring significant investment to the area it seems the Department of Transport are now dithering over whether to support this much needed new station. Without a station at Surrey Canal Road many of the benefits of the second phase of the East London Line extension will be denied to many residents in North Lewisham.

“It is time the Department for Transport clarified their position once and for all. Does their previous pledge to contribute £7 million for this much needed station still stand?

27 March 2010 - 3:34pm

Tories rely on disgraced councillor to pass fire budget

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon and Councillor Ed Butcher, Lib Dem Fire Leader, walked out of today’s budget meeting of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). This was in protest at the decision of the Tories prohibiting the filming of the disgraced Councillor, Bertha Joseph, who was present and voting for the half billion pound budget.

Caroline Pidgeon commented:
“The Tories want to hide their shameful secret from the public that today’s Budget was passed due to the support of Councillor Joseph – someone who has been found guilty of serious wrongdoing and is unable to act as a councillor in her own borough.

“This is simply wrong and the Liberal Democrats want no part of this. It brings the Authority and the Mayor into disrepute.

“It is time that the Mayor took decisive action and sacked Bertha Joseph.”

21 March 2010 - 6:33pm

Clean up Kennington!

For many years, Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes and Lib Dem Councillors have been campaigning for improvements in the Kennington area, particularly around the tube station.

This area can all too often seem forgotten as it sits on the boundary between Lambeth and Southwark, with Transport for London in charge of Kennington Park Road.

For many people this area is the gateway to Southwark, and yet the environment around the tube station is not welcoming enough.

Your Lib Dem Team have launched a five point action plan calling for:

  1. Improvements to the pavements;
  2. More secure cycle parking
  3. Better street lights
  4. Improvements to the road surface for all road users particularly cyclists; and
  5. Kennington Tube Station to be re-zoned from Zone 2 to a boundary 1/2 station.
4 February 2010 - 7:47pm

Save Walworth's garden

Newington Lib Dem Focus Team, working with local residents, is campaigning to transform the old police station garden, on the Walworth Road, into a community garden or park.

After years of standing empty, the old police station on Carter Place off the Walworth Road has been turned into flats. But the front garden area has now been sold to another company who want to build shops and flats on this open space.

Lib Dem Councillors and local residents put in strong objections and just before Christmas the plans were thrown out by Southwark Council. However, we fear that further applications will be submitted to build on the garden.

4 February 2010 - 7:42pm

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