Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon, the chair of the London Assembly transport committee, came to the launch of a Liberal Democrat campaign in Camden to introduce 20mph limits on streets across the wards of King’s Cross and Bloomsbury.

Caroline said: “Lib Dems London-wide are pushing for greater action on speeding than either the current or previous London mayors have been prepared to take.”

Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner for Holborn and St Pancras Jo Shaw, and King’s Cross Lib Dems, have welcomed the fact that money will be spent on improving the dangerous junction on Marchmont Street. But they said that pedestrians deserve to feel safe everywhere.

Jo Shaw commented: “Residents across the south of Camden have told that they feel unsafe and uncomfortable walking around the streets of their own neighbourhood.

“A 20mph limit for our streets would at a stroke make the traffic less intimidating, less noisy and, most importantly, unlikely to hurt anybody.”

London Assembly Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon AM led a delegation of Greenwich Liberal Democrat councillors to lobby South East Trains Public Affairs Manager Mike Gibson about plans to cut commuter train services at Blackheath Station.

Caroline Pidgeon, who is Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee commented: “It does seem extraordinary that with more and more passengers using rail to get to work, a train operator is withdrawing commuter trains.”

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, and Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, have been alarmed to discover that CCTV footage on buses is only kept for one week. After being contacted by a constituent who was allegedly assaulted by a driver on a 42 bus, Simon was shocked to discover the Transport for London and East Thames Buses had no record of the incident because CCTV footage had been destroyed.

The Evening Standard reports on plans for sections of the Northern Line to close at 10pm on weeknights, as signalling systems are replaced over the next two years.

In the article, Caroline gives her views:

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib-Dem transport spokeswoman on the London Assembly, encouraged TfL and Tube Lines to “think outside the box” and suggested that full-line closures, lasting several weeks at a time, may be more efficient than repeated weekend shut-downs.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has called on Greenwich Council Leader Chris Roberts to provide an alternative river crossing for hundreds of cyclists when the Greenwich Foot Tunnel closes for up to 18 months for renovation. Cyclists and pedestrians are also threatened with the closure of the 'sister' Woolwich Foot Tunnel at the same time.

Cllr Pidgeon met a group of cyclists at the Cutty Sark outside the south entrance to the Foot Tunnel with Liberal Democrat group leader on Greenwich Council Brian Woodcraft, Cllr Paul Webbewood, and Lib Dem councillors from Lewisham.

After using the lift and inspecting the Tunnel, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"Chris Roberts and Boris Johnson cannot just leave hundreds of cyclists who depend on the Foot Tunnel to get to work every day without an alternative. They face either biking many extra miles to cross Tower Bridge or to use the Woolwich Ferry. The Blackwall and Rotherhithe Tunnels are too dangerous for cyclists and DLR rules do not permit bikes. The Council and the Mayor must find a workable alternative."