Caroline's news

Lib Dem Assembly Member and member of the police and fire authorities for London, Caroline Pidgeon, joined Lib Dem MP Tom Brake in a visit to the Climate Camp in Blackheath in August.

“I wanted to see for myself and talk to ‘climate campers’ about how the police were policing the camp and any other safety issues and concerns.

“I was delighted to chat with local Fire Chiefs and hear about safety measures they had helped with to ensure the camp was fire safe and to hear about the low key police presence in the wider area” added Caroline.

Caroline Pidgeon AM set up a site visit with Transport for London and Southwark Council at the end of August to listen to local concerns from Cllr Lewis Robinson, a local Police Community Support Officer and local shop keepers at parking restrictions on Lordship Lane, outside AM Express Dry Cleaners.

The group discussed the concerns about the tight restrictions which affect local businesses. Following the meeting, TfL and Southwark Council officers have agreed to do some traffic modelling of options including whether the red route bays could allow stopping for 20 minutes between 10am and 4pm and also between 10am and 12 noon and 2 to 4pm.

“I was delighted to help College Ward Councillor Lewis Robinson and local businesses to set up this site visit and to have a look again at options for short term parking for the local passing trade for this parade of shops. I hope that all options can be considered” commented Caroline.

Caroline visited St John’s station in Lewisham to witness the huge amount of graffiti that appears all over the station and on surrounding walls.

“There needs to be a simple way to report such graffiti and other environmental nuisance at stations and other transport areas as there are so many train companies and public bodies involved it is difficult to work out who is responsible. I have called on the Mayor of London to look at introducing such a website or web pages” commented Caroline. (See Caroline's question to Boris Johnson here.)

Southeastern Trains' plan to close the Tesco side exit from platform 4 at Lewisham Station has been met with fury by local residents. The rail operator intends to divert passengers down a new staircase or lift and under the railway to the entrance of Lewisham DLR Station. It is a detour which will add at least four minutes to journey times.

Caroline visited the exit at rush hour with local councillors and Lewisham Deptford Lib Dem Campaigner Tam Langley, to see the number of people using the exit.

“Southeastern trains need to reconsider this decision and ensure that all entrances to the station can be used” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

Caroline recently visited Lewisham with Lib Dem Campaigner Tam Langley and local councillors to look at the wider impact on train services of the East London Line Extension and proposals to delete the South London Line.

As part of the deal to secure the East London Line Extension, Transport for London and the Government agreed behind closed doors to scrap the promised Bellingham to Victoria service. This was being introduced to mitigate the impact of the planned closure of the South London Line which runs on a loop form Victoria to London Bridge. The planned service would have been four trains and hour from Bellingham to Victoria via Crofton Park, and provided a lifeline for Lewisham residents.

The Lib Dem Prospective MP for Lewisham Deptford Tam Langley, said, "TfL are supposed to announce any change of plans for this new service publicly, but they seem to just hope local people won't notice. We hope they will reconsider”.