If the Mayor is serious about his plans to see an extra million journeys made on foot in the capital every day, he needs to push for bigger, bolder pedestrianisation projects alongside smaller initiatives to get people walking, a new report by the London Assembly says today.
London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon has joined local Lib Dem councillors in the fight to sort out the problem of flooding in the underpass below the A406 at Maybank Rd/Mulberry Way in South Woodford.
Every time there is heavy rain the underpass floods meaning local people have to wade through the water, or risk their safety by crossing the main roads at Charlie Brown’s roundabout.
After pressure from local councillors and residents, TfL have installed new drains and pumps in the underpass. But now it has been revealed that the drains are filling with clean water, probably from an underground spring, and the pumps can’t cope.
Caroline Pidgeon has backed a recent House of Commosn motion tabled by Martin Horwood MP, the co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee on Transport, denouncing the recent tube strikes and highlighting the inconvenience suffered by commuters. Martin has criticised both the unions and the Mayor of London’s office for not doing enough to reach an agreement between all parties, and encouraged the Mayor of London to bring the current talks to a settlement.
Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s fare package for 2011 said:
“The Mayor’s fare package is hitting hardest the Londoners who are on the lowest incomes.
“Last year the Mayor racked up Oyster pay as you go bus fares by an eye watering 20%. Now again he is hitting hard people in temporary or low income jobs who simply cannot afford a season ticket.
Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the announcement in today’s Comprehensive Spending Review that Crossrail will go ahead, said:
“This is good news for London and Londoners. When difficult short term decisions are having to be made in so many areas it is excellent news that long term plans to improve transport in London have not been compromised.
The London Assembly has called on the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) to rethink plans to cull up to 800 jobs on the Underground because of the adverse affects for passengers.
The Assembly believes the proposed cuts will damage customer service and leave passengers feeling less safe at stations where only one member of staff is present, particularly early in the morning and late at night.
Ticket office hours will be reduced, forcing people into long queues for ticket machines. This will especially disadvantage passengers with disabilities who find it difficult to use the machines and who rely on Underground staff for assistance when travelling by Tube.
Caroline Pidgeon AM recently joined Lib Dem Cllr Gwyneth Deakins at South Woodford station to highlight the closure of their ticket office by the Mayor of London.
Cllr Deakins and Caroline have been trying to find out the rationale for the cut in hours at the ticket office which will see South Woodfood ticket office on the Eastbound platform closed completely whilst on the Westbound platform it will be open for a couple of hours or so each day.
Caroline met with Redbridge Liberal Democrat Council Group on 14th September, to discuss important issues in the Borough as well as across the capital.
“It was good to meet the team at Ilford Town Hall and to hear the issues of concern to local people from problems on the Central Line with reliability, to ticket office closures and the hike in charges for London Underground car parks, causing problems on the streets for local residents” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.
Before meeting the Council Group, Caroline went on a site visit to the Charlie Brown roundabout to see the serious issues with safety for pedestrians on this TfL road with Cllr Gwyneth Deakins.
The BBC reports on the Mayor's responses to questioning from Caroline Pidgeon AM, the London Assembly Lib Dem leader, revealing the impact of glitches in the launch of the cycle hire scheme.
Question: Has any money been returned to Barclays since the start of the scheme for any reason?
Answer from the Mayor: The Barclays Cycle Hire sponsor agreement does incorporate measures to reflect the success of the scheme. The precise details however are commercially sensitive.
The BBC report on their website that written questions from Lib Dem London Assembly leader Caroline Pidgeon forced the Mayor to admit that TfL has paid celebrities £5,000 each for 10-second appearances in videos to promote the cycle hire scheme.
Caroline says:
It is scandalous that the Mayor is splashing out our money on frivolous celebrity videos, paying them £500 a second, when Londoners are facing huge hikes in fares.
The Mayor needs to get a grip.