July's Mayor's Questions saw Caroline raise a number of issues:
Transport for London have promised to assess the case for a new school bus between Hinchley Wood School and Chessington following a recent meeting with local parents Steve Griffiths and Steph Narramore, Cllr Mary Reid, Ed Davey MP and Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee.
At the meeting held on Wednesday, detailed evidence was presented to Transport for London (TfL) showing that the increase in pupils attending the school from Chessington clearly justifies a dedicated school bus. Using a map showing where pupils live, evidence was shown that already about 140 pupils of Hinchley Wood School come from homes in the area. Pupils can only get to the school by bus using the 71 followed by the K3 which takes about an hour, and both buses are already pretty full at peak hours.
On Saturday 11th July, Caroline visited Wimbledon with Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Shas Sheehan, to campaign on local transport issues.
Caroline, Shas, and local Lib Dem activists collected signatures for the One Hour Bus Ticket petition. They also investigated air quality issues in Raynes Park, and litter problems around Dundonald Road Tramlink station.
Caroline joined Lib Dem Cllr Chunilal Hirani and other local Liberal Democrats out meeting local residents in Wembley Central on Saturday 11th July.
Local residents commented on how pleased they were with the work of the Lib Dem led Council.
Caroline met with residents from Ruston Mews, which backs onto Ladbroke Grove Tube Station, on Friday 10th July with local Lib Dem campaigner Carol Caruana. Residents have had a huge number of issues with the existing station, including loud announcements. However, with plans to increase the number of trains and lengthen the platforms, even more noise and general problems are feared.
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, joined up recently with Simon Hughes MP, Councillor Adele Morris and local party activists to campaign for the Mayor of London to introduce one hour bus tickets.
At the Elephant and Castle, near to the Metropolitan Tabernacle, bus users and local residents were urged to sign a petition calling for Boris Johnson and Transport for London to follow the example of other European cities by introducing bus tickets which would allow unlimited rides for a one hour period.
Lib Dem London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon joined Oval Ward Lib Dems for a special advice surgery at this month's Vauxhall Park Summer Fair, which included a consultation session on the proposed new 42-storey development at Bondway to hear what people think.
Caroline Pidgeon AM joined local residents, staff from King’s College Hospital and politicians from all parties at a campaign rally on Friday 26 June at Denmark Hill Station to save the South London Line. This is the loop line that runs all day from Victoria to London Bridge. By 2012 Denmark Hill will have no direct trains to London Bridge and only 2 trains per hour to Victoria.
Caroline Pidgeon has tabled a question to Boris Johnson to ask why, during the engineering work disrupting the Jubilee line this summer, replacement buses from Canada Water are being directed to Bank rather than along the line's normal route to Waterloo.
"It seems extraordinary that TfL decide on where to route rail replacement buses without, it would appear, consulting the local community," says Caroline.
The Hounslow Chronicle covers the story of the double red lines painted by mistake on Lower Mortlake Road in Richmond, and the efforts of Susan Kramer MP and Caroline Pidgeon AM in having them removed.
Caroline tabled a question on the issue to Boris Johnson, who admitted: "An error was made, resulting in TfL’s contractors installing double red lines in advance of a decision being made on the necessary traffic orders. ... Any red lines introduced prematurely and without a valid traffic order will not be enforced."
