Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on Boris Johnson’s claim today that fare evasion rose to almost £75 million last year, said:

“The Mayor is right that we need to tackle fare evasion, but I don't have any faith in the figures he quotes. He just seems to use a random figure that helps his story.

“In 2009 the Mayor told us fare evasion was costing Londoners £70m a year. Last Year Boris told me that fare evasion was running at £55m a year. Today he tells us it costs £75m a year. One of the Mayor’s answers must be wrong!

Lib Dem Assembly Members Caroline Pidgeon AM and Mike Tuffrey AM met local Lib Dem campaigners in Battersea to look at local issues on Tuesday 15th March ahead of the People’s Question Time in Battersea Arts Centre.

The team discussed concerns about the redevelopment plans for Clapham Junction station and the problems of poor air quality, as well as other transport issues.

“It was good to talk to local residents and Lib Dem Campaigners about a number of key issues in Clapham and Battersea. Local people really want to see the cycle hire scheme expanded and want to ensure that Clapham Junction becomes a fully accessible station” commented Caroline Pidgeon.

Caroline Pidgeon AM met with representatives of the RNIB and officers from London Underground to discuss issues with the accessibility of the Underground for visually impaired people.

A number of issues were discussed including the reductions in staff at ticket offices and their impact on assisting visually impaired passengers, as well as issues with help points and future developments.

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined local resident and former Bromley Councillor Bob Shekyls and an officer from Transport for London to look at the issues faced by residents in Biggin Hill Valley with the 320 bus route.

The route was extended from Bromley to Catford last year and since then the bus has become completely unreliable. Bob showed Caroline and TfL the problem places along the route, such as the stop by Biggin Hill Airport where buses sometimes turn around instead of completing the route to Biggin Hill Valley, leaving passengers stranded, a long way from their end destination.

The Willesden and Brent times reports on the £1.25m that Brent passengers have been overcharged in 2010 for "incomplete journeys" on their Oyster cards.

Read the full article here.

And you can read the full data here on Caroline's site.