Caroline's news

Key local attractions such as the Tate Modern and the Globe as well as the many businesses on the South Bank could be set to receive a huge boost if Network Rail agrees to change the name of the new Blackfriars station to Blackfriars & Bankside.

Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, and Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Leader, have now received an assurance from Network Rail that serious consideration is being given to the proposal. Ian Coucher, Chief Executive of Network Rail has stated that he is “sympathetic” to the proposal and has initiated further work to be carried to examine the practical implications of the name change.

Earl's Court has been revealed as having one of London's most inaccessible and unsafe pedestrian crossings.

Research by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, shows that a pedestrian crossing on Earl's Court Road (junction with Bramham Gardens and Earl's Court Square) is one of a handful in London that are not only breaking national safety standards over the minimum time for pedestrians to cross the road but is also failing to provide any assistance for blind people to cross the road.

Caroline, who obtained the information following a series of written questions to the Mayor of London, said:

"At present the Mayor of London seems to put the interests of pedestrians at the very bottom of his priorities. It is simply shameful that there remain pedestrian crossings in London that are so inaccessible and unsafe.

"The Mayor should ensure as a matter of urgency that every pedestrian crossing in London is safe and accessible for everyone."

Research by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, has revealed London Underground are planning to close ticket offices across the underground by 7458 hours every week.

Responding to London Underground’s defence of the reduced hours and their repeated claim that all tube stations with a ticket office will continue to have one, Caroline Pidgeon said:

“London Underground and the Mayor are playing with words when they keep peddling the claim that no ticket office will actually close. The harsh reality is that if you can’t access a ticket office for most hours of the day it is effectively closed.

“Ticket office staff carry out many tasks to help customers, with their duties going far beyond just serving tickets. If staff numbers are severely reduced at 9 out of 10 stations it will become far more difficult for staff to help disabled and vulnerable customers and other people who need assistance including visitors.

“London Underground's simplistic portrayal of many ticket offices being quiet places where few tickets are actually sold overlooks the vital service and safety that staffed ticket offices provide. If the plans were to allow ticket office staff to go in and out of the office, depending on the needs at a station, and without a reduction in staff numbers that would help to improve customer services. But to simply cut ticket office hours and take away so many frontline staff makes no sense. In the end it is passengers who will lose out.”

Caroline visited Earl’s Court in Kensington and Chelsea on 10th August to support local Liberal Democrats including Linda Wade, who is standing in a council by-election in Earl’s Court ward.

Caroline joined Linda and local representatives of residents’ groups to discuss a range of issues including transport plans for Volleyball which will be hosted at Earl’s Court, some dangerous pedestrian crossings and the poor location of the Mayor’s new bike hire scheme.

Moves by London Mayor Boris Johnson to rip out the traffic lights at three locations in Islington have been condemned by the Liberal Democrats.

As part of the Mayor’s plans to speed up traffic flows around the city, he has announced the removal of 145 sets of traffic lights across London with more set to follow. The plans are currently out for consultation. The locations in Islington are:

• Roman Way/Mackenzie Road (Holloway)