Campaigning in Westminster
Caroline had a really enjoyable trip to Westminster, campaigning on the doorstep with Lancaster Gate ward candidate Sally Gray and her team. The ward by-election is on 22nd November.
Caroline had a really enjoyable trip to Westminster, campaigning on the doorstep with Lancaster Gate ward candidate Sally Gray and her team. The ward by-election is on 22nd November.
Caroline Pidgeon has criticised Westminster Council's plans to go it alone with a watered-down plan for Oxford Street, rather than fully pedestrianising it.
Caroline said:
“For a long time Westminster City Council had a constructive working relationship with TfL. Suddenly they think that they alone can transform Oxford Street.
Caroline Pidgeon has given her strong support to the motion the London Assembly passed, calling for the Mayor to ensure the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street goes ahead, using his emergency powers if needed to overrule Westminster council.
Caroline said:
"Oxford Street will quite frankly die as a global destination for shopping if it does not adapt.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on today’s announcement by the Mayor that the GLA will not be providing Mayoral guarantees for the Garden Bridge project, said:
“The Mayor has taken a year to make this decision and while he has been dithering more money has been wasted. Yet while it is regrettable that Sadiq Khan has taken so long to make a decision he has finally done the right thing following Dame Margaret Hodge's damning report.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on Dame Margaret Hodge's highly critical report on the Garden Bridge, said:
“This is a totally damning report. It is a disgrace that key decisions on the Garden Bridge were driven by electoral cycles rather than any concern for value for money. The report also backs up the long standing finding of the London Assembly that the procurement processes were not open, fair or competitive.
As the Mayor reiterated his support for the building of the Garden Bridge, Caroline Pidgeon highlighted the taxpayers' money that is still being sucked into the project.
Caroline told the London SE1 website:
"Sadiq Khan’s position on the Garden Bridge is illogical and indefensible.
"He claims to be committed to not providing any further public funding for the Garden Bridge yet at the same time he is allowing TfL to hand over another £10 million of public money.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the publication after much delay of the Garden Bridge Trust accounts. said:
“Even advocates of the Garden Bridge with rose-tinted glasses will find these accounts incredibly concerning.
“The Trust has finally admitted what most people have long expected was the case - that the final cost of the project is likely to increase substantially above the current £185 million predicted cost.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the National Audit Office's inquiry report into the funding of the Garden Bridge, said:
"This report is clear evidence that the Department of Transport had its arm twisted into supporting the Garden Bridge by George Osbourne. From the very outset personal interests overcame serious concerns about value of money for the taxpayer.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Mayor’s announcement that he has appointed Dame Margaret Hodge to conduct a review into the Garden Bridge said:
“I welcome this latest review into the Garden Bridge which I hope will pick up from the excellent inquiry undertaken by the London Assembly. However the Mayor cannot hide behind this latest review as an excuse for not taking any action.
The London Assembly Transport Committee has written to the Mayor asking him to prioritise the changes needed to make Oxford Street pedestrianised - including innovative changes to bus routes and service patterns.
The committee has met with representatives of local businesses, residents, road users, Transport for London (TfL) and Westminster City Council, and will go on to produce a full report on congestion issues in the capital later in the year.
The letter suggests: