Campaigning articles

Safety concerns at bus garage on Streatham Hill

Lib Dem London Transport Spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon and Streatham Hill Cllr Ashley Lumsden have met managers from Transport for London and the Brixton Bus Garage on the corner of Wavertree Road and Streatham High Road to discuss serious concerns in the area for local residents.

Cllr Lumsden raised a number of serious issues with the bus garage operators which are making the area unsafe and causing problems for local residents going about their everyday lives.

Campaign victory on Streatham High Road pavements

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, has welcomed Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to eventually back down over its plans to narrow a stretch of pavement on Streatham High Road.

As part of its latest phase of improvements to Streatham High Road it was proposed by TfL to restrict a stretch of the pavement between Becmead Avenue and Woodbourne Avenue by removing some of the pavement outside the former Woolworths store for loading bays.

Local Liberal Democrat councillors strongly objected to these proposals as they would have inconvenienced many pedestrians and local shoppers. To ensure TfL took notice of their concerns they also invited Caroline Pidgeon to support their campaign.

Pedestrian safety forgotten at lethal junction

Pedestrians trying to cross the lethal Tiger's Head junction on Bromley Road were left facing yet more danger and uncertainty this week, when London Mayor Boris Johnson failed to give a timeframe for the introduction of pedestrian crossings. Local residents are forced to cross the four-lane junction, which is the site of numerous traffic accidents, without the help of pedestrian lights.

The Liberal Democrats' London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, Caroline Pidgeon, asked Boris Johnson why so little progress had been made to improve safety at the dangerous intersection of Bromley Road and Whitefoot Lane. In his reply, the Mayor failed to offer any timeframe for the urgently needed improvements, saying only that "investigations are on-going."

Caroline raises safety concerns of Chingford bus users

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.

Mayor urged to act over unsafe junction on Holloway Road

Islington councillors Laura Willoughby, Terry Stacy and John Gilbert presented a petition to GLA member Caroline Pidgeon this week in protest urging action to improve safety on the junction of Holloway Road, Fieldway Crescent and Madras Place. Caroline, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, formally presented the petition to Mayor of London Boris Johnson, asking him to take action.

The petition has been signed by around 300 Islington residents and was organised by the Liberal Democrat Councillors from Highbury East ward.

After presenting the petition on Wednesday morning Caroline said:
"I am delighted to be able to support this campaign. It is absolutely necessary to make the junction safer for both cyclists and pedestrians. I have already asked two questions to the Mayor over this issue and I hope this petition really forces Boris Johnson to ensure Transport for London sort out this problem."

Stonebridge needs a better bus service

Caroline Pidgeon AM has joined Brent Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather and the local Liberal Democrats to campaign for better buses for Stonebridge particularly along Brentfield Road. The 206 and PR2 services which currently serve the area don’t run very often and sometimes don’t even turn up at all. With lots of people coming from outside of Stonebridge to visit the shops such as Ikea and Tesco as well as the world famous Swaminarayan Temple the current links are simply not good enough for local residents and those who use the Temple.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said “So many local people have told me how unhappy they are with our bus services especially on Brentfield Road. That is why I am urging local people to sign my petition to Transport for London calling for a better bus service for our area.”

Lib Dem report reveals massive overcrowding on Croydon trams

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Vice-Chair of the Transport Committee and Croydon Central Liberal Democrat Campaigner Stephen Dering launched a damning report today into overcrowding on the Croydon Tram network.

73% of respondents to the Liberal Democrat survey highlighted that overcrowding was unacceptable or so bad that they could not board the tram.

The Lib Dem survey included over 1,000 tram users at 12 tram stops across Croydon Central in the early mornings between 9th and 13th February.

Upper Street - we're sick of sprinting!

Islington campaigners want action from Transport for London on what they say are ludicrously short crossing times at a busy Upper Street junction, where Islington Park Street and Canonbury Lane join the main road.

Last Friday, Liberal Democrat campaigner Bridget Fox brought GLA Transport Vice-Chair Caroline Pidgeon to see for herself. And Caroline has pledged her help in raising the issue.

Bridget says, “We timed the green man at just 5.2 seconds. Perhaps TfL think that crossing the road in Islington should be an Olympic event?”

Downham residents elect Lib Dems Duwayne Brooks and Jenni Clutton

Downham residents in Lewisham voted overwhelmingly for two new Liberal Democrat councillors on Thursday 19th February. Caroline went down a number of times to help the team.

“I am thrilled that Duwayne Brooks and Jenni Clutt3n have been elected. They are two very energetic and dynamic people who will be a strong voice for Downham residents, along with Cllr Julia Fletcher”.

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