Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon, as Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has written to Transport for London to raise concerns that current plans to increase capacity at London Bridge station do not include extending all the platforms for twelve carriages.

The letter highlights the Transport Committee’s recent report, The Big Squeeze: Rail overcrowding in London, which urged the Department for Transport (DfT) to fully extend all platforms at London Bridge as part of the Thameslink project.

Current plans will see two platforms remaining shorter. The Committee is calling on TfL to consider the consequences of this, and possible funding options, as part of its South London line study.

On Friday 4th September Caroline visited Forest Hill with local Lib Dem Councillors John Russell and Alex Feakes to look at a number of transport issues.

Talking to local residents and members of the Forest Hill Society, Caroline heard about several key transport issues, several of which Caroline has tabled questions to the Mayor about:

1. The proposed reduction in train services from Forest Hill at peak times and in evenings and weekends to Charing Cross;

2. The dangerous junction of Forest Hill Road and Sydenham Rise;

3. The virtually invisible bus stops on Sydenham Rise due to overgrown trees, bushes and no dedicated bus space to pull in by the kerb; and

4. Issues of visitor traffic around the Horniman Museum, congesting local streets.

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.)