Caroline's news

Commenting on the revelation of a possible £2billion shortfall in the plans to upgrade three key tube lines Caroline Pidgeon, the transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Group at the London Assembly, says: “This possible 'black hole' is something that can be laid directly at the feet of Gordon Brown.

“He was the Chancellor of the Exchequer who pushed through the ill-fated PPP project for London's Underground and that project has now cost London's hard pressed traveling public billions of pounds.

Commenting on the news that Mayor Johnson will not be committing further funding for the Cross River Tram proposals, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: “Given how much work and money has already gone into this and given his transport strategy is still under review, it’s staggering the Mayor would say this when he’s not fully reviewed the case.

“The Transport committee will next week be reviewing the case and how the tram can be funded and will put this to the Mayor as a matter of urgency.”

Over many months, Lib Dem Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon received serious complaints about the dial-a-ride services provided by Transport for London. On 3rd September Caroline met Paul Blackwell, General Manager of dial-a-ride, to discuss the many issues that had been raised by dial-a-ride users and to hear about what TfL are doing and have put in place to improve the service.

“It is quite clear that the centralisation of the service has caused huge problems, particularly in certain parts of London, and that their computer system has had real problems. I am trying to get to the bottom of how much the computer system has cost Londoners” commented Caroline.

“I have requested further statistics, going back as far as possible, so that I can really get a clear picture of the maximum length of time users are having to hold on the telephone before speaking to someone. We also need to know how often dial-a-ride are unable to provide a service.

Caroline went to the opening of a new café - Electric Elephant - on the Pullens Estate in West Walworth.

The café is named after the many cinemas around the old Elephant and Castle, one of which was called Elephant Electric. The café will also display works of art from the artists who live and work on the Pullens Estate.

Photos (courtesy of Nick Gurney from Peacock Yard) - Cllr Caroline Pidgeon with Cllr Eliza Mann, the Mayor of Southwark, and Louisa, the owner of Electric Elephant café. Many thanks to Nick for the use of the photo.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat deputy chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee, has given a cautious welcome to news of planned improvements to a notorious Islington road junction.

“The junction of Penton Rise and Pentonville Road in Islington has been known as a local death-trap for cyclists and pedestrians for years and I’m pleased something seems to be in hand to deal with the problem.