The Liberal Democrat group at the London Assembly has demanded Mayor Boris Johnson scraps the western extension of the Congestion Charge zone.
In his consultation exercise the Mayor suggested three options for the future of the western extension in Kensington and Chelsea and the GLA Liberal Democrats have now responded.
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, today presented the Mayor with a petition calling for Piccadilly Line tube trains to stop at Turnham Green station throughout the day, and not just at peak times.
Caroline says: “It’s totally unfair people living near Turnham Green can’t use the Piccadilly Line during the day. London is a modern, 21st century city and Londoners need a modern, 21st century underground service.”
On Tuesday 23rd September Caroline went to visit the new trains planned for the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines at an exhibition at Euston Gardens. The new trains are in production and will be undergoing testing next year. The timetable for their introduction is as follows:
2010 Start to arrive on Metropolitan Line
2011 Start to arrive on Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines
2013 Start to arrive on District Line
Commenting on the Cross River Tram plans at the Liberal Democrats' autumn conference in Bournemouth, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat's transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says:
"As to what Boris is going to do, that is a very good question. Boris has said he is interested in the Cross River Tram and we have that on record.
"Messages coming out of his office have been very mixed but we need to keep it in his transport strategy and we're lobbying very, very hard on that."
Commenting on Mayor Johnson’s pledge to intervene on the issue of the possible closure of South West Trains’ ticket offices, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Group at the London Assembly, says: “I’m extremely disappointed to see Mayor Johnson hasn’t personally got involved in this matter when he quite clearly said he would.
“Getting his minions at TfL to do his work simply doesn’t have the same impact as if the Mayor of London gets involved. I want to see the Mayor sticking to his promises.”
Caroline Pidgeon AM, the transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat group at the London Assembly, has welcomed the Mayor’s continued commitment to the Crossrail scheme and its funding.
“It’s good to see the Mayor’s still committed to this project and is fully planning to raise the necessary funds as had been stated.
“There’d been mutterings the funding could be in jeopardy but the Mayor’s re-affirmed the funding plans are still in place and it’s all on schedule too.”
Commenting on the news that TfL’s journey planner website is being upgraded to show walking options, Caroline Pidgeon, the transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Group at the London Assembly, says: “If we want to encourage people to be greener and healthier we need to show quick walking alternatives. And especially, given the current economic situation, some routes are quicker to walk and also save money." At this month’s Mayor’s Question Time Caroline asked if TfL’s website could be amended to which the Mayor replied:
Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, joined forces with colleagues in Haringey this week to help launch a campaign for residents to be able to use their pay-as-you-go Oyster cards on local trains.
On Wednesday Caroline met up with Lynne Featherstone MP and Alexandra by-election candidate Nigel Scott at Alexandra Palace station.
Liberal Democrats are campaigning for Transport for London (TfL) and First Capital Connect to extend pay-as-you-go Oyster card travel to Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace and Bowes Park stations.
Caroline says: “It's encouraging we've finally heard there's movements in the right direction on this but what we need now is a commitment on an exact time frame to ensure PAYG is introduced on this line as soon as possible."
On Tuesday morning a busload of supporters of the Cross River Tram plans arrived en masse at City Hall for the Cross River Tram seminar.
The campaigners, who brought with them a petition of support for the proposed north-south tram link, were met at their journey's end by Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesperson.
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.
