Scrutinising the Mayor articles

Graffiti problems at St John's station

Caroline visited St John’s station in Lewisham to witness the huge amount of graffiti that appears all over the station and on surrounding walls.

“There needs to be a simple way to report such graffiti and other environmental nuisance at stations and other transport areas as there are so many train companies and public bodies involved it is difficult to work out who is responsible. I have called on the Mayor of London to look at introducing such a website or web pages” commented Caroline. (See Caroline's question to Boris Johnson here.)

11 September 2009 - 9:55pm

Boris must stop dithering on fares

At today's Mayor's Question Time, Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, criticised Boris Johnson's repeated evasiveness in answering questions about 2010 transport fares in 2010, saying:

"This time last year the Mayor had already told Londoners what the fares package would be for 2009. Now a year later the Mayor seems incapable of even saying when a decision will be announced for fares in 2010. Why is the Mayor dithering on fares?

9 September 2009 - 9:47pm

Lib Dems highlight risks to public as bus CCTV footage is destroyed

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, and Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, have been alarmed to discover that CCTV footage on buses is only kept for one week. After being contacted by a constituent who was allegedly assaulted by a driver on a 42 bus, Simon was shocked to discover the Transport for London and East Thames Buses had no record of the incident because CCTV footage had been destroyed.

4 September 2009 - 8:37pm

Mayor's Question Time for July

July's Mayor's Questions saw Caroline raise a number of issues:

  • The extension of the number 63 bus route to Honor Oak Park Station, to link in with the East London Line Extension which will open next year
  • Information on the West London Line
  • Road works at Richmond Circus
  • Philosophy on the Underground
  • Planning closures of the London Overground service between Gospel Oak and Stratford
  • Issues between EDF and TfL about removing redundant lamp post columns
6 August 2009 - 9:36pm

Caroline urges Mayor to deliver a 24/7 Freedom Pass

The Mayorwatch website covers the restrictions that prevent London pensioners using their Freedom Passes on overground rail services at peak times.

Caroline is quoted saying that “[many pensioners] believe the promise made by Boris Johnson for 24 hour use of the Freedom Pass applied to all public transport in their area. Clearly this has not been the case and at present many pensioners in London are getting a rotten deal.”

13 July 2009 - 8:13pm

Caroline Pidgeon challenges Mayor over Jubilee line disruption

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.

29 June 2009 - 9:30pm

TfL paints double red lines on road by mistake

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."

28 June 2009 - 9:49pm

Caroline questions the Mayor

Caroline's questions in June's Mayor's Question Time, and Boris Johnson's answers, are now on the London Assembly's website.

Caroline covered a number of topics, including:

  • Free access to National Rail services for Freedom Pass holders at peak time
  • Ensuring Londoners can continue to commute with the extra strain on public transport during the 2012 Olympics
  • Preventing the loss of local accessible transport services like the ones recently closed down in Kingston

The full questions and answers are here.

28 June 2009 - 9:48pm

Mayor's legacy of broken promises on Oyster

In his first year of office Boris Johnson has broken numerous promises he made to Londoners to improve rail services and has overseen huge delays in extending Oyster to overground train services, says Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson.

Commenting further, Caroline said:
"A year ago Boris Johnson promised to champion the cause of rail passengers by negotiating with Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and delivering Oyster to all overground stations within a year.

22 May 2009 - 11:08pm

Boris Johnson apologises over poor service for Horn Park estate residents

Bus users on the Horn Park estate have been given an apology from Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, following the intervention by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson.

Caroline Pidgeon raised the issue of the B15 bus service not actually serving Horn Park estate, after being briefed by Greenwich Councillor Paul Webbewood, who represents the estate.

Caroline Pidgeon said:
"It is disturbing that bus operators consider it acceptable to shorten a designated bus route and inconvenience residents on the Horn Park estate. The Mayor and Transport for London must ensure the contract with Arriva is fully enforced."

20 April 2009 - 9:19pm

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