London-wide + Redbridge stories
Campaigning in Redbridge
Caroline visited Woodford for a campaigning session with councillors Gwyneth Deakins and Hugh Cleaver, and Redbridge Lib Dems.
The team got a great response on a beautiful sunny afternoon.
Central Line had only two days in December at full capacity
Caroline Pidgeon's questions to the Mayor about the recent poor service on the Central line have revealed that the line ran with a full fleet of trains for only two days in December – neither of which were busy weekdays.
Caroline said:
“Strike suffering Central line users have already had enough grief, however what is clear is that even in the absence of strikes the line is underperforming.
Pedestrians and cyclists need a safe crossing at Charlie Brown's roundabout
Caroline Pidgeon has formally delivered to the Mayor a petition calling for action on the dangerous traffic hotspot at Charlie Brown's roundabout in South Woodford.
The petition calls for safe crossings on the approach roads to the roundabout, for pedestrians and cyclists, with traffic signals if necessary.
Campaigning for a Safer Charlie Brown Roundabout in Redbridge
Caroline joined local Lib Dem Redbridge Councillors Ian Bond and Hugh Cleaver, the Lib Dem by-election candidate Richard Clare and their campaign team out in Redbridge.
Campaigning in Redbridge
Caroline Pidgeon joined the Redbridge Lib Dems with Councillor Gwyneth Deakins and Liberal Democrat London Assembly candidate for Havering and Redbridge Ian Sanderson. They were out speaking to local residents and also collecting signatures for improvements at Charlie Brown roundabout.
Civil Aviation Authority have let down people in east London
Caroline Pidgeon, transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the concentration of flight paths from London City Airport that are starting today, said:
“The changes that are starting today will mean residents who were hardly overflown at all by planes from London City Airport a few years ago now face living under a concentrated flight path.
Campaigning at the Charlie Brown Roundabout in Redbridge
Caroline Pidgeon AM joined local Liberal Democrats including Cllr Gwyneth Deakins to highlight the serious safety issues at the Charlie Brown roundabout in Redbridge.
Several years ago Transport for London developed plans to make the busy transport roundabout safer for road users including pedestrian crossings for local people. However this was cancelled and now TfL is once again carrying out feasibility studies for safety measures including looking at signals for the junction.
“I have spoken to many people in the area and they are frustrated and bewildered at TfL's failure to provide safe crossing facilities at the Roundabout. Many local people take their cars for relatively short journeys, rather than walk or cycle, because they dare not attempt to cross the roads there. This adds to the congestion!” commented Caroline.
Mayor must now come clean over plans for Night Buses
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson, commenting on the announcement that the launch of the Night Tube has been deferred, said:
"This is a big climb down for the Mayor. His retreat is entirely due to his error in setting a specific start date before all the staffing arrangements and other issues had been settled.
"By pushing for a set start date the Mayor strengthened the union’s negotiating position.
One Hour Bus Ticket: a long-standing focus for Caroline and the Lib Dems
Dave Hill's London blog in the Guardian looks at the proposal by potential Labour mayoral candidate Christian Wolmar for a bus ticket valid over multiple journeys for an hour - and points out that this has been a long-standing policy of Caroline Pidgeon and the London Assembly Liberal Democrats: