London-wide + Newham stories

Redeveloping Stratford station is vital for east London and the whole region

After the London Assembly backed her motion calling on the Mayor to do everything in his power to support the redevelopment of Stratford station, Caroline Pidgeon said:

“The redevelopment of Stratford station is vital for the future growth of east London as well as the region as a whole.

“If the population growth in east London is to also drive economic growth and improved prosperity for local communities, we must ensure the infrastructure is there to support that growth.

Opposing City Airport expansion

Caroline Pidgeon has written to Newham Council to formally object to London City Airport's expansion plan, which would see more flights and longer operating hours. Caroline questioned the need for expansion – especially with other modes of transport, and remote working, providing alternatives to short-haul flights – and highlighted the increased noise and environmental damage that the plans would bring, as well as the impact on local transport around the airport.

Thames floating nightclub plan is terrible for the human and natural environment

Caroline Pidgeon has written to Newham Council, strongly opposing the licence application for a floating nightclub on the Thames, as a serious noise nuisance to residents all along the river, a threat to the Thames's ecosystem, and a precedent for more disruptive super-yachts.

"It is unconscionable that this application should be approved", said Caroline.

The mayor needs to address facts, not ridicule Silvertown Tunnel opponents

Speaking to the 853 website, Caroline Pidgeon points out that the Mayor is regularly evasive over the facts that he claims support the case for building the Silvertown Tunnel.

Caroline said:

“Back in June Sadiq Khan made the absolute claim that the 108 bus was the most unreliable bus route in London. Yet when he made that claim there were 85 other bus routes in London with a higher excess waiting time than the 108.

The rising cost of Silvertown Tunnel is a further argument for its cancellation

As the Silvertown road tunnel project was revealed to have increased in cost by £200m compared to what Transport for London claimed in November, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

“Silvertown road tunnel is already turning out to be a hugely expensive construction project and I expect its financial cost will escalate even further.

Silvertown Tunnel contracts will now be made public - but the Mayor must do so before the election

Following pressure from Caroline Pidgeon in the London Assembly, the Mayor has now committed to make public the details of the contracts to build the £1bn Silvertown Tunnel.

Caroline commented:

"It is simply incredible that the £1bn project is going ahead, when we should be spending much more on cycling and pedestrian transport infrastructure.

"The Mayor needs to release the contracts for the Silvertown Tunnel, as promised, before the London elections."

Boasting about the ULEZ while building the Silvertown Tunnel is a massive contradiction

Commenting on the newly published report predicting that the Ultra Low Emission Zone will save the NHS around £5 billion over the next 30 years, Caroline Pidgeon said:

“I welcome this report, indeed its positive findings are a powerful case for the Ultra Low Emission Zone being extended even further. It is perplexing that in October 2021 it will go up to, but not actually include the South and North Circular roads.

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