Transport articles

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, made an early morning visit to Addiscombe’s tram stop to take part in an extensive survey of tram users that local Croydon Liberal Democrats are now conducting.

Caroline was invited by Stephen Dering, the Liberal Democrat Croydon Central parliamentary candidate, to the launch of the survey, which started early this week. The survey is seeking to find out people’s views on a wide range of issues relating to the whole tram network.

Caroline, who is vice chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:
"This is an important survey. The views of tram users really matter. This survey is a key way of ensuring that concerns of tram users are heard by Transport for London and that improvements are made."

The harmful effects of the western extension of the congestion charging zone were seen at first hand by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, on her recent visit to the Portobello area. The fact-finding visit was organised by local Liberal Democrat campaigner Carol Caruana, who was keen to update the London Assembly on the impact of the extension on local shops and market stallholders.

After the visit Caroline commented:
“For a long time I have been aware of the harmful effects of the congestion charge extension, however there is no substitute for seeing first hand the harmful impact it is having. Trader after trader told me how they lost business since the congestion charge was extended. The congestion charge extension could not end sooner for businesses in this area.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Transport Assembly spokesperson, commenting on Boris Johnson’s reply to her questioning about TfL bonus payments for senior managers, said:

“It is extremely disappointing that that the Mayor is not willing to give a firm commitment to curtail the bonus culture within TfL. The salaries and especially the bonus payments for senior TfL managers are excessive and it is time that they were drastically cut. Boris Johnson’s promise to merely ‘review’ the situation falls far short of what hard pressed passengers expect of the Mayor.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on the announcement by TfL that London Underground ticket office might have to take unpaid leave or a day’s annual leave for not getting to work last Monday said:

“Transport for London should take great care in how they handle this situation and they should deal with each case on an individual basis. Working from home is hardly an option for these workers and many were of course affected by TfL’s decision to stop the buses running. Some staff also faced extra difficulties due to the schools closing with no advanced notice.

“As an act of goodwill TfL dropped the congestion charge last Monday for motorists. The same goodwill should be shown in how they treat ticket office staff who faced the same exceptional circumstances as everyone else.”