London-wide + Hammersmith and Fulham stories

Chris Underwood's Shepherd's Bush blog reports on Caroline Pidgeon's letter to Business Secretary Vince Cable, calling on him to urgently review the planning application which Hammersmith & Fulham Council have approved for the redevelopment of Earl's Court - demolishing the exhibition centre which is a key facility to promote British businesses.

You can read the full article here

Caroline joined local Assembly Candidate Layla Moran, Cllr Linda Wade and local residents to discuss the huge issues with the planned Earl’s Court development.

There are clearly really serious concerns particularly about the impact on local transport infrastructure including the roads and the tube, which TfL and the Boroughs do not seem to be taking seriously.

Caroline recently joined Liberal Democrat mayoral Brian Paddick at a fundraising event for the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith. She was also joined by Steve Bradley, a Liberal Democrat London Assembly candidate and Lambeth Councillor.

A year ago the centre was struggling to raise funds to buy the premises in which it is situated. Now following a grant by the Irish Government and other fundraising the management of the centre are planning to demolish and totally rebuild the facility, including residential housing.

A full report on plans for the centre can be seen at the Shepherd's Bush blog.

The River Thames is a forgotten highway, a tube line effectively, across the centre of London and yet under-resourced in terms of transport.

In January, the London Assembly Transport Committee is looking into river transport services - so Caroline and other Committee members spent a chilly morning in early December out and about on the river with Thames Clippers from Putney to Erith, looking at the challenges and opportunities to really expand river transport services for Londoners.