London-wide + Kingston stories

Campigning in Kingston

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined local councillors and campaigners on the doors in Kingston on Tuesday 6th May to hear about local issues and to support the Lib Dem teams in the forthcoming local council elections.

Caroline spent some of the day in Chessington South, and Chessington North and Hook, supporting local Cllr Tricia Bamford, Cllr Rachel Reid, Cllr Shiraz Mirza, Cllr Margaret Thompson, Clive Chase and Emma-Louise Wykes. The team had a fantastic day in the sunshine hearing about the good housing service and major works that had been carried out in the area and picking up issues around transport.

All new look for Tolworth

Caroline Pidgeon AM was delighted to join local Lib Dem Councillors and the Mayor of Kingston at the official opening of the Tolworth Greenway project. The project is an innovative design of the pavement and cycle ways linking up Tolworth station with the shopping high street, making the area much safer to get around across the busy A240 roundabout.

"Previously local residents and shoppers only had underpasses to get around this dangerous junction, but now they have a wonderful bright and inviting green walkway with wonderful planting and light" commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

"Other Boroughs are already interested in this innovation and I hope that this will really help to bring more shoppers to the Tolworth High Street" added Caroline.

Campaigning in New Malden

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined London and Kingston Liberal Democrat campaigners out and about campaigning in New Malden on Friday 12th July.

Caroline knocked on doors talking to local residents about key issues including transport and the Mayor's police cuts.

Caroline was campaigning for local Lesley Heap, the Lib Dem Candidate in the forthcoming Beverley Ward by-election.

Save our London neighbourhood policing

The London Assembly today urged Mayor Boris Johnson to halt his plans to dilute police Safer Neighbourhood Teams and recklessly close police front counters across London.

The Assembly's motion calls on the Mayor to retain the existing neighbourhood policing model of a dedicated sergeant, supported by two Constables and three Police Community Support Officers, allocated to each ward in London.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, who seconded the motion, said:

“Londoners value their local police stations and the local, recognisable police teams dedicated to serving their ward. Shutting up cop shops to public access and destroying the local policing model risks setting policing back more than a decade and separating the police from their communities.”

Out and about in Berrylands, Kingston

Caroline Pidgeon AM was delighted to join many local Councillors and other local members out door knocking on Saturday 9th February. The team were joined by Council by-election candidate Sushila Abraham who is standing to represent Berrylands Ward following the sad death before Christmas of the wonderful Cllr Frances Moseley. Sushila has lived in Surbiton for 20 years and is a local solicitor specialising in family law.

Mayor should admit he is decimating Safer Neigbourhood Teams

Caroline Pidgeon AM, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s response today to her questions about the future of Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) across London, where he failed to recognise that there would be a reduction in dedicated police officers for each safer neighbourhood team, said:

“The Mayor should come clean with Londoners and admit that he is decimating the current and successful model for safer neighbourhood teams.

Out and about in Kingston

Caroline kick-started the new year out and about campaigning with Kingston Liberal Democrats. Caroline joined Sarah Ludford MEP, local campaigner Robin Meltzer and other European candidates knocking on doors and talking to local residents about issues of concern.

“We had a great reception from local people in Kingston and it didn’t rain either!” commented Caroline.

Meeting voters in Surbiton

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Assembly Candidate Emily Davey, local councillors and campaigners Ash, Neil Houston and Frances Moseley out and about in Surbiton on Tuesday talking to local residents about the London elections.

"We received a fantastic response in the high street to our campaign for fairer fares and improved policing in London" said Caroline.

Seven week holiday for fare dodgers

Despite hiking up fares at the start of 2012 the Mayor has delayed his plans to get tough on fare evaders, reveals Caroline Pidgeon, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group.

In August 2011 Transport for London started a consultation proposing to increase the penalty fare on all TfL services to £80 with the proposed introduction date for the new rate being the 2nd January 2012. On the 29th November 2011 the Mayor of London then signed a Mayoral decision which again stated that the increased penalty fare would start from the 2nd January 2012.

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