Campaigning articles

‘Funding gap can be laid at Gordon Brown’s door’ – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Commenting on the revelation of a possible £2billion shortfall in the plans to upgrade three key tube lines Caroline Pidgeon, the transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Group at the London Assembly, says: “This possible 'black hole' is something that can be laid directly at the feet of Gordon Brown.

“He was the Chancellor of the Exchequer who pushed through the ill-fated PPP project for London's Underground and that project has now cost London's hard pressed traveling public billions of pounds.

9 September 2008 - 9:28pm

‘Mayor throws a spanner in the works for Cross River Tram' – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Commenting on the news that Mayor Johnson will not be committing further funding for the Cross River Tram proposals, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: “Given how much work and money has already gone into this and given his transport strategy is still under review, it’s staggering the Mayor would say this when he’s not fully reviewed the case.

“The Transport committee will next week be reviewing the case and how the tram can be funded and will put this to the Mayor as a matter of urgency.”

4 September 2008 - 10:59pm

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.

4 September 2008 - 10:55pm

"Why do people have to die before action’s taken at accident black-spot?"– Caroline Pidgeon

Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat deputy chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee, has given a cautious welcome to news of planned improvements to a notorious Islington road junction.

“The junction of Penton Rise and Pentonville Road in Islington has been known as a local death-trap for cyclists and pedestrians for years and I’m pleased something seems to be in hand to deal with the problem.

31 August 2008 - 9:34pm

Lessons from Croydon for the Cross River Tram

Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat deputy chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee, has made a fact finding visit to the now well-established Croydon Tramlink along with a delegation from the transport committee.

Caroline says: "We can learn a lot from the Croydon tram experience and this will ensure the Cross River Tram is even more successful."

Commenting on the plans for the new tram to link London across the river she says:

26 August 2008 - 9:35pm

TfL’s rules on hybrid cars are ‘mindless red tape’ – Caroline Pidgeon

Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat deputy chair of the London Assembly’s Transport Committee, says the hoops through which new owners of hybrid cars have to jump in order to avoid paying the congestion charge are “ridiculous.”

“It’s just more mindless red tape preventing Londoners trying to do their bit for the environment. Why the drivers of these cars have to take the trouble to inform TfL that their cars are bona fide hybrids is beyond me and is something I will be drawing to the Mayor’s and TfL’s attention at the soonest opportunity.”

7 August 2008 - 11:07pm

Action in Hillingdon

Caroline joined the local team from Hillingdon Lib Dems campaigning in the Hayes By-Election on 17th July.

The Lib Dem vote improved considerably, pushing the Conservatives who run the Borough into third place with less than 20% of the vote.

27 July 2008 - 10:31pm

Promote Church Street Market, Westminster

Caroline joined Westminster by-election candidate Martin Thompson on Wednesday 23 July to highlight the Liberal Democrats' call for street markets to be promoted in station and stop announcements on London's tubes and buses.

Caroline, whose London-wide constituency includes Church Street ward, has lodged a member's enquiry with Transport for London asking if street markets could be named in onboard announcements to passengers.

27 July 2008 - 10:25pm

“Soft words are not enough” – Caroline Pidgeon

Liberal Democrat Assembly Member and vice-chair of the Assembly’s Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon today accused London Mayor Boris Johnson of not doing enough to secure the future of vital transport upgrades in south London.

At the Mayor’s Question Time session in City Hall this morning, Caroline Pidgeon asked what guarantees the Mayor had got from the Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly MP, who he met last week, about the funding for the Cross River Tram project and the East London Line extension as well as other transport projects in London

18 July 2008 - 8:19pm

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