London-wide + Waltham Forest stories

Caroline ventures where Boris feared to tread

While London Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) Chair, Boris Johnson, refused to travel on the overcrowded, TfL-run, London Overground Barking–Gospel Oak rail service when invited by London Assembly Chair Jennette Arnold, Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Vice-Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, was made of sterner stuff. She travelled with members of the Barking – Gospel Oak Line User Group (BGOLUG) on a crowded morning peak train from Barking last Friday (27th February) in order to see the overcrowded conditions for herself.

Mayor hits Freedom Pass holders with double whammy

Pensioners and eligible disabled people in London were today hit by a double whammy as the Mayor of London Boris Johnson revealed that not only would their 24-hour Freedom Pass not be able to be used on Network Rail trains before 9.30am, despite this being a key election promise, but that the London Boroughs face paying out millions of pounds to fund Mayor Boris Johnson's 24-hour commitment.

Action on dial-a-ride services

Over many months, Lib Dem Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon received serious complaints about the dial-a-ride services provided by Transport for London. On 3rd September Caroline met Paul Blackwell, General Manager of dial-a-ride, to discuss the many issues that had been raised by dial-a-ride users and to hear about what TfL are doing and have put in place to improve the service.

“It is quite clear that the centralisation of the service has caused huge problems, particularly in certain parts of London, and that their computer system has had real problems. I am trying to get to the bottom of how much the computer system has cost Londoners” commented Caroline.

“I have requested further statistics, going back as far as possible, so that I can really get a clear picture of the maximum length of time users are having to hold on the telephone before speaking to someone. We also need to know how often dial-a-ride are unable to provide a service.

15% swing to the Lib Dems in Chingford Green


The Chingford Green by-election on 26th April saw a massive 15% swing to the Liberal Democrats in this ward in Waltham Forest. Caroline went and helped the team on a number of occasions. Achieving over a thousand votes in Iain Duncan Smith’s seat is a real victory and shows what a strong Lib Dem campaign can achieve.

Photo – Caroline out campaigning on election day in Chingford Green.

Chingford Green By-election in Waltham Forest

Caroline has been out and about over the last few weeks helping in by-elections in London. The team in Chingford Green are putting up a really strong fight in a Tory-held ward. We're hoping an energetic campaign, combined with a history of regular Focus delivery over the last 20 years, may result in a shock victory in former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith's back yard.

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