Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the London Assembly Lib Dems, and Southwark councillors David Noakes and Mark Gettleson, joined senior Lib Dems including Lynne Featherstone MP, Sarah Ludford MEP, and party president Ros Scott, at the Pride London event on Saturday 3rd July - the UK's largest annual LGBT event.
Caroline Pidgeon AM chaired a special Sickle Cell Society event to celebrate World Sickle Cell Day on Friday 18th June.
Held near Westminster, the event had a number of superb speakers talking about the development of awareness of Sickle Cell and services for those with the condition, as well as hearing about the work of the Sickle Cell Society.
“I was honoured to be able to help out by chairing this important event. The work of the Sickle Cell Society is very important in raising awareness of this condition that affects many Londoners” added Caroline.
Photo: Caroline Pidgeon AM with Dr Philip Nortey and other members of the Sickle Cell Society at the celebrations
Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem leader in the London Assembly, has joined Brent Lib Dem councillors in criticising Transport for London's waste of £8,000 installing Help Points at Neasden tube station - and never putting them into use for passengers.
The Mayor recently confirmed in answer to a question from Caroline that Neasden is the only tube station to have had Help Points fitted which are then not used. He also confirmed that "on average the cost is £4,000 for the unit. The two disused Help Points at Neasden could have cost around £8,000 of taxpayers’ money.
The national Public Accounts Committee found that £410 million had been wasted by the former Labour Government by failing to properly risk manage of having various parts of the management of the Tube leased to the private sector on 30-year leases.
Commenting on the announcement by Transport for London (TfL) that drivers are spending less time sitting at traffic lights after a review of more than 1,000 sets of lights Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly group leader and transport spokesperson, said:
"Nobody likes sitting in a car waiting at a red light for too long, but are London's drivers profiting at the expense of pedestrians?
As the London Assembly's Transport Committee publishes its report on the shortcomings of TfL's Dial-A-Ride service for people with disabilities, the committee's deputy chair, Caroline Pidgeon AM, has commented:
"It cannot be right that Dial-a-Ride is providing fewer journeys than it did eight years ago but is spending 70 per cent more on the service.
"The improvements to some aspects of the service are welcome, but it’s disappointing that people are still experiencing some of the same old problems with the booking system.
"People rely on Dial-a-Ride and are entitled to expect a consistent and reliable service. I urge Transport for London to take the necessary steps to make this a reality."
Commenting on the decision by Transport for London to cancel the planned early evening closures on the Northern Line, London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat group leader and spokesperson for Transport, said:
"I welcome the fact that TfL have cancelled these early evening closures. I have spoken to many small businesses and local residents and know what problems these closures would have caused.
On Saturday 26th June, Caroline joined Lib Dem candidate Felicia Taiwo in the Goresbrook ward in Barking. The team knocked on doors talking to local residents about issues from the state of the economy to the need for a strong representative for the area.
“Given that every other councillor in Barking is Labour, local residents clearly felt they need a strong local Champion from their neighbourhood to stand up for Goresbrook. Felicia Taiwo lives locally and is a really energetic person. I hope local residents will back Felicia on Thursday 8th July.”
Photo: Caroline joined Felicia Taiwo and the local Lib Dem team in Goresbrook
Caroline joined John Tyne and the local Chadwell Lib Dem Focus Team in Redbridge to support his candidacy in the Chadwell Ward by-election on 8th July.
John was previously the Councillor for twelve years, and was narrowly beaten in May.
“It was great to meet local residents and discuss their concerns. We also looked at issues with the subway, which I’ll be tabling questions to the Mayor about soon” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.
On Friday 25th June, Caroline joined other members of the Metropolitan Police Authority on a visit to their specialist firearms training centre in Gravesend.
The Centre includes two mocked up towns with housing, shops and businesses, as well as a train carriage, to allow police officers to be trained in all aspects of incidents which may involve the use of firearms. There are also several ranges for testing skills and for mocked up incidents, as well as a high tech interactive system.
“The level of intensive training that Met Police Officers receive in order to become firearm officers is incredibly high. The day at the centre really showed me how quickly officers have to assess situations and make decisions on how best to act” commented Caroline Pidgeon.
Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the London Assembly, writes in a letter to the Evening Standard:
Anyone reading your story on the trial of countdown indicators at pedestrian crossings might think that crossings routinely allow more time than necessary for pedestrians to cross. The reality is often very different ...
The Evening Standard has a report on the £13,500 spent by the Greater London Authority to furnish a "business lounge" inside City Hall.
Caroline Pidgeon told the Standard:
This expenditure clearly reveals some very poor policies being adopted at City Hall under Boris Johnson.
Given that every Londoner is being asked to tighten their belt, how can the GLA even dream of spending taxpayers' money on bar stools costing £220 each or chairs at almost £900?
I question whether ridiculously expensive furniture and a ghastly new carpet are necessary to encourage people to work flexibly. This is simply a waste of public money.
Caroline joined Terry Curtis on Saturday out and about in Tulse Hill meeting local people and hearing their issues and concerns. Terry Curtis has been selected to stand in the Council By-Election on 1st July. Terry has lived in Tulse Hill for over 50 years, chairs the local police Safer Neighbourhood Panel and represents local tenants and leaseholders as Chair of the St Martin's Estate Board, where he lives.
“It was super to meet local people with Terry Curtis, who is so well known in the area. We received a really warm welcome on the doorstep and were able to discuss issues such as traffic calming and local policing” commented Caroline.
Shepherd's Bush blogger Chris Underwood returns to the story of the shoddy works to the site of Shepherd's Bush Market, which is owned by Transport for London.
Caroline Pidgeon has been keeping up the pressure on the Mayor to get these fixed, but there has still been no action.
On Thursday 10 June Caroline joined other Assembly Members on a visit to meet residents who live near City Airport to hear their concerns about noise and pollution. The members then went and visited City Airport to talk to their Chief Executive and team about their plans and ways they work with the community.
"It was interesting to see around City Airport and to talk to local people about the impact it has on their lives. It is clear that all noise from airplanes using different airports needs to be mapped together in one place so that we can really understand the noise impact of London's airports on different parts of the capital," commented Caroline Pidgeon.
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group leader and spokesperson on transport commenting on Transport for London's plans to lift previous restrictions on information relating to London's Tube, buses and river services, said:
"This decision has my total backing. By lifting restrictions on such useful information we can now unleash the huge talent and imagination that exists amongst London's huge number of web developers. This decision will now allow innovation and exciting developments to take place in the provision of travel information. Releasing data really does help to release people."
You can read more information from TfL on the data available.
And Lib Dem blogger Mark Pack covers the story at Liberal Democrat Voice.
Also, this site shows a great use of the data, with a live map showing where every tube train is on the network. The BBC has a story here about this site.
The charity TAMBA (Twins and Multiple Births Association) has an article in its newsletter Multiple Matters, highlighting a question Caroline Pidgeon asked the Mayor on behalf of parents of twins:
Caroline Pidgeon:What instructions are bus drivers given about permitting buggies for twins to be taken on board London buses and for them to use the space for wheelchairs – as it is reported that many drivers are refusing to take such buggies until they are folded?
The Mayor:TfL advises drivers that passengers with double buggies can board by the centre doors, as it is too difficult for them to get on at the front. Passengers must ask the drivers permission first and show their ticket/pass or touch their Oyster card on the reader. Single buggies must board by the front door only. There may be occasions when it is necessary for a driver to ask a passenger with a buggy to fold it – for example if the bay is already occupied by another buggy or is required by a wheelchair user. Please forward any reports of drivers not allowing double buggies on board to TfL.
You can read the full article here.
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on the Mayor’s admission at Mayor’s Question Time that he did not raise the issue of Surrey Canal Road station at his first meeting with the new Secretary of State for Transport, said:
"It is incredible that the Mayor failed to raise the issue of Surrey Canal Road station with the Secretary of State when he clearly promised that he would. If we don't secure the additional seven million now this station will be lost for a generation.
"As a matter of urgency the Mayor must get on the phone to the Minister and ensure this issue is finally resolved."
You can also read coverage of this story by the Lewisham News Shopper and by local blog Brockley Central.
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on today’s announcement that there will be a reduced programme of weekday evening closures for the Northern Line this summer, said:
"Where closures are absolutely necessary for tube upgrade work we should be seriously looking at short term blockades as opposed to very long periods of evening and weekend closures.
The London Bikers website has a story on the questions Caroline has asked the Mayor about parking charges for motorbikes, and TfL's trial allowing motorcyclists to use bus lanes.
Caroline Pidgeon:
"What do you personally think about Westminster Council’s parking charges for motorcycles?"Answer from the Mayor:
"My particular concern is about central London traffic congestion arising from recent demonstrations by motorcyclists congregating at Trafalgar Square. I would like to see the dispute resolved through common ground being found between WCC and motorcyclists around the operation of parking schemes in Westminster."
Local Shepherd's Bush blogger Chris Underwood covers Caroline Pidgeon's questions to the Mayor on the unsafe and defective work that Transport for London commissioned at Shepherd's Bush Market, which is sited on TfL-owned land.
19. “Shoddy” work in Shepherds Bush (1)
There have been recent media reports regarding the market traders in Shepherds Bush being furious about “shoddy” works carried out on TfL land which runs through Shepherds Bush market. What action has TfL taken in rectifying this?20. “Shoddy” work in Shepherds Bush (2)
Will you investigate why the market traders in Shepherds Bush seem so unhappy about the expensive works that have been carried out on the path that runs through the market, and also investigate why the costs were so high for this job in the first place?
You can read Chris's full article here.