Caroline's news

The need for real assurances about the future facing the independent businesses that operate under the arches of London Bridge was the number one message that came out of a key meeting held today (Monday 27th June) between local businesses, Network Rail and politicians.

At the meeting Network Rail met with representatives of local businesses including Team London Bridge, Arch 897, Platform SE1 bar and restaurant, Southwark Playhouse and Arch Climbing Wall, as well as planning officers from Southwark Council and local Riverside Councillor Anood Al-Samerai, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Southwark Council. The meeting was hosted at City Hall by Caroline Pidgeon AM, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee.

Caroline recently joined Ian Shacklock (Chair of the Friends of Regent's Canal), Caroline Russell (Chair, Islington Living Streets), Del Brenner (lifelong canal campaigner, Secretary of Regent's Network) and Michael Rosenbaum (Angel Canal Festival committee member, local resident) to walkabout the Regent’s Canal in Islington and Hackney to look at a number of issues including:

• cycling (and measures to deter or calm the few anti-social cyclists),
• illegal mooring,
• freight opportunities and threats,
• the Danbury ramp,
• policing.

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Assembly colleague Mike Tuffrey AM campaigning in Peckham for Jennifer Blake, alongside other Southwark Liberal Democrats and Councillors.

Commenting on the finding of the Employment Tribunal that RMT Union member Arwyn Thomas had been unfairly dismissed from his job as a Tube driver, Caroline Pidgeon Leader of the Liberal Democrat Assembly Group, said:

"London Underground have previously said that if the tribunal cleared Mr Thomas he would be re-instated. I hope that LU bosses will acknowledge the Tribunal's findings and that the RMT will also call off the further strike action they have planned so London can go about its normal business."

Following on from extensive work by Caroline Pidgeon on Oyster overcharging, London Travelwatch have now looked at the issue and discovered that 8 million passengers are overcharged every month.

The Evening Standard covers the story here, and discussed the situation with Caroline: