Extraordinary that we still don't know the date or cost of Crossrail!
As Crossrail's new chief executive admitted that the line will not open in 2019, Caroline told ITV:
As Crossrail's new chief executive admitted that the line will not open in 2019, Caroline told ITV:
Caroline Pidgeon has criticised the lack of participation by St George's hospital, and the Chelsea and Westminster NHS trust, in a scheme that aims to tackle hidden violence on the street by reporting anonymised information about violent injuries.
Caroline told the Evening Standard:
"This data-sharing scheme is highly effective. For a hospital, especially in London, to opt out of the scheme is truly horrific. As the scheme does not involve any breach of personal data there really is no excuse.”
As news emerges that the Northern Line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea, scheduled for 2020, will not be completed until late in 2021, Caroline Pidgeon has expressed concerns that TfL is not able to successfully manage major infrastructure projects.
Caroline told ITV:
Caroline Pidgeon has expressed the continuing frustration of Londoners at the delays to the opening of Crossrail, and the poor and evasive communication around them.
After a meeting with the Mayor and the TfL Commissioner, Caroline said:
“It is very frustrating that despite a long meeting, with summonsed documents, the Mayor and the TfL commissioner speaking at length, we’re still far from understanding who knew what and when.
In the November issue of the Centre for London's "London Intelligence" report, Caroline comments on data that show tube usage stagnating and bus usage declining.
After Transport for London released documents relating to the delay in Crossrail, it is becoming very clear that the Mayor knew of the delay in July - but key materials still have not been released.
Caroline Pidgeon said:
“It is now clear that the Mayor was told on July 26 that Crossrail’s opening date was at “high risk”.
Launching a new report by the London Assembly Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon stressed the importance of suburban rail to London's transport network, and the investment and strategic thinking that is needed to make it work smoothly.
Caroline said:
“The rail network is an essential part of the rhythm and movement in this city.
“For Londoners and visitors to get around our city our rail network has to be world-class. Currently, it is not.
As international credit rating agency Moody's warned that the delay in launching Crossrail will hit Transport for London with a £400m funding shortfall in 2021, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The Moody’s report makes for grim reading over the financial crisis now facing TfL. Their report draws upon and reflects what the London Assembly has been saying for months regarding the huge loss in income that TfL will now face due to the delayed opening of Crossrail.
Writing for the OnLondon website, Caroline explains the statistics around deterioriating response times to 999 calls - as well as the way the Mayor has used the statistics to obscure the worrying underlying problems.
Caroline Pidgeon has highlighted the delays and uncertainty plaguing the refurbishment of Hammersmith Bridge.
Work was expected to start late in 2018, but this has been delayed into 2019 - exactly what the start and finish dates will be remains very unclear, with mixed messages from Transport for London, and Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Heavy vehicles are currently banned from driving over the bridge, and this means TfL need to pay for traffic wardens to enforce the restrictions.
Caroline said: