Poor air quality and pollution are issues of huge concern to people across London. Caroline met with Chuka Umunna last week on Oxford Street to talk through how we can improve air quality, particularly in some of the busiest areas of central London. To tackle this, we need to take tough and decisive action.
The BBC reports on Transport for London's figures showing that by September 2019, the cash pile of unclaimed balances and deposits on dormant Oyster cards had reached £399m.
Caroline told the BBC:
"TfL never stops bombarding us with advertisements and information campaigns, but highlighting this cash mountain is one issue that they remain very quiet about.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the announcement that Crossrail is projected to cost £400 to £650 million more than the funding already committed to the project, and with its expected opening date shifting further to sometime in 2021, said:
“For far too long Crossrail Limited has made key decisions behind closed doors.
In a written question to the Mayor, Caroline again raised the issue of the heavily polluting proposed Silvertown tunnel - and pointed out this was nowhere in the Mayor's 2016 manifesto, whereas the Rotherhithe-Canary Wharf bridge was promised and has been scrapped.
Caroline visited London City Airport and the surrounding area with Siobhan Benita, Richard Flowers, Chris Maines and Michael Fox to support the Stop City Airport campaign, against expansion, spearheaded by the excellent Alan Houghton.
At Mayor's Question Time for October, Caroline discussed with the Mayor the issues raised by the London Cycling Campaign regarding junction safety and how he is ensuring junction works are being completed in line with his Vision Zero strategy.
Caroline was delighted to join other London Assembly Members in welcoming a huge petition from the London Cycling Campaign, raising concerns about too many junctions still not meeting Vision Zero standards.
You can read more on this subject from the London Cycling Campaign.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the opening of the vehicle scrappage scheme today said:
“Getting the most polluting cars and motorcycles off our roads is very welcome, but the Mayor’s scheme falls short of what could be possible.
“Twenty-five million of public money is being spent on largely encouraging people to buy or rent new cars, when instead the money could have been spent on giving people a much wider range of options for travel.
Caroline Pidgeon is continuing to press Transport for London to hold an independent enquiry into the 2016 tram crash in Croydon which killed 7 people and injured 62.
After the Deputy Mayor refused an enquiry, Caroline said:
“We still have a lot of questions for TfL to answer on its past record on safety issues and especially why it failed to share vital information while the investigations into the Sandilands tram crash were being undertaken.
Caroline took up with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) the need to tackle serious overcrowding at Stratford station - greater use of Stratford International must be part of the solution.
