Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson,
commenting on today’s announcement that passengers will be able to use their Oyster cards on almost all London’s rail network by the end of the summer said:
"Londoners have had to wait far too long to use "pay-as-you-go" Oyster cards at National Rail stations.
Boris Johnson has this week stated that vital improvements to a junction in south Catford might now go ahead after years of delays.
Responding to a question from Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, the Mayor stated that Transport for London will start a consultation process for improvements at the junction of Bromley Road and Whitefoot Lane in Spring 2009. At present the junction only has pedestrian lights at two of the four sides of the junction, leaving many pedestrians in a very vulnerable position.
Whitefoot councillor Dan Houghton said:
"For many years TfL have been aware how dangerous this junction is, especially for children. Due to their dithering their own research and modelling for the junction became out of date and they were forced to repeat their investigations, causing further delays. Both pedestrians and the taxpayer have paid a high price for Transport for London's dithering over this junction."
Brent’s Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign with Caroline Pidgeon AM to ease overcrowding on the 245 Bus route, in an attempt to make life easier for those travelling at peak times.
The popular route is particularly congested in the morning rush hour between 7 and 9am, and again in the evenings after around 4pm, according to Lib Dem Councillor Daniel Brown, the Council’s Lead Member for Highways and Transportation.
Lib Dems Caroline Pidgeon AM and Norman Baker MP visited King’s Cross station just before Christmas to hear about Network Rail’s plans for the redevelopment of the station. The Lib Dem team learnt about planned improvements to both the overground and underground stations for passengers. Caroline raised the issue of access via York Way, which has been an issue both Norman and Caroline have taken up for local residents.
Lib Dem Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon has sent the Mayor of London over 1,000 signatures against Transport for London’s (TfL) plans to extend the red route restrictions on Holloway Road and Upper Street to Sundays. Caroline tried to present the petition at the Mayor’s Question Time on 17th December, but the Labour Chair decided to rule it out of order.
“Transport for London are planning to extend the red route restrictions to Sundays on the A1 red route with no proper consultation with local traders and residents. Local businesses are very concerned about the impact this could have on their businesses” said Caroline Pidgeon.
Pensioners and eligible disabled people in London were today hit by a double whammy as the Mayor of London Boris Johnson revealed that not only would their 24-hour Freedom Pass not be able to be used on Network Rail trains before 9.30am, despite this being a key election promise, but that the London Boroughs face paying out millions of pounds to fund Mayor Boris Johnson's 24-hour commitment.
London Lib Dems were out in numbers this morning on London bridge to launch their campaign for a tube and bus fares freeze.
Tom Brake MP (London Spokesman), Susan Kramer MP, Simon Hughes MP and Caroline Pidgeon (London Assembly Member, Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee) were joined by Father Christmas.
London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson on the Assembly, has handed in a petition with 396 names on it calling for either the K2 or K3 bus to pass by the Cambridge Road estate, Cambridge Gardens and Norbiton.
Organised by Kingston Councillor Sheila Griffin, the petition was presented to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson in his role as Chair of Transport for London, in an attempt to see the estates better served by bus links to Kingston Hospital as well as the centre of Kingston and the Asda superstore at Roehampton Vale.
Caroline Pidgeon said:
"At the moment there are a large number of residents on these estates who have little direct access to the hospital or to the main local shopping centres. People from these estates wishing to access treatment or out patient services need to take at least two buses. I hope the Mayor will get Transport for London to look seriously at whether some minor route alterations could happen - it would definitely benefit local residents wanting to use public transport."
Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon today joined in the calls for the western extension of the congestion charge to be abandoned earlier than 2010, which Mayor of London Boris Johnson has suggested is the earliest date the scheme can cease.
Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The problem is that there are legal procedures that have to be gone through before the scheme can be cancelled. This includes a formal public consultation process. The Mayor should be sitting down now with his lawyers and Transport for London to find a way of making sure that, with the legal process observed, the charge is got rid of as soon as possible.
"It is clear that shops and businesses in the area need action now. They can’t wait two years.”
Caroline was delighted to join members of the London Liberal Youth at LSE on Thursday 27th November to discuss the Cross River Tram and their campaign to try to persuade the Mayor of London to change his mind and keep the plans alive.
The team of students have produced leaflets and posters and are planning a number of events and different levels of lobbying to keep the pressure on the Mayor to save the tram.
“I was very impressed to meet such an enthusiastic and energetic student group, who strongly felt the tram would benefit the student community in London as well as the wider community, in many deprived areas.
