On Tuesday a report looking into what is needed on the Brandon Estate was launched by the Blackfriars Settlement, Newington ward councillors and Simon Hughes MP. The report showed that the majority of people like living on the estate, but that improved security and more social activities would make it better still.
Newington ward councillor Caroline Pidgeon, who chaired the launch event, said:
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?
Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Committee chair Caroline Pidgeon joined Lewisham Lib Dem councillors, and local campaigners from the Forest Hill Society, to present a petition to the Department for Transport calling for cuts to their train services to be reversed.
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.”
The Mayor has been urged to deliver on his pledge to Londoners to extend the tube’s opening hours on Friday and Saturday nights, starting with the Jubilee Line, at today’s Mayor’s Question Time (Wednesday 17th March).
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, reminded the Mayor of his specific election pledge to extend the opening hours of the whole tube network for one hour later on both Friday and Saturday nights.
Speaking after her question to the Mayor she said:
“The Mayor was elected promising to extend the opening hours of the whole tube network. It is now time he honoured his pledge, starting with the Jubilee Line, where the upgrade works be completed this year.
“Everyone who uses this line has already faced months of inconvenience and many traders that rely on weekend and evening business have been hit for six. If there is one line that deserves to benefit from longer hours it must be the Jubilee Line.
