Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the admission today by the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, that the year 2017 to 2018 will see £38 million saved by recognising current police numbers which are about 31,200 police officers, said:

“The Mayor is repeatedly on record as saying he backs the strategic target of London having 32,000 police officers, yet in his very first budget he want to remove the very means to achieve that target.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the publication after much delay of the Garden Bridge Trust accounts. said:

“Even advocates of the Garden Bridge with rose-tinted glasses will find these accounts incredibly concerning.

“The Trust has finally admitted what most people have long expected was the case - that the final cost of the project is likely to increase substantially above the current £185 million predicted cost.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the new fares facing London commuters from January 2017, said:

“Sadiq Khan’s manifesto specifically said that Londoners won’t pay a penny more for their travel in 2020 than they do today. There were no ifs, or buts, in that statement.

“Yet the reality is that at the start of 2017 many Londoners are already seeing increases in their daily and weekly caps as well as their travelcards.

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Lib Dem Cllr Linda Wade, Parliamentary Candidate Annabel Mullin and local campaigners in Earl’s Court on Friday 2nd December. The visit was to meet local businesses and hoteliers to discuss the damaging impact the Earl’s Court redevelopment is having on their trade and the impact on business rate rises.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the announcement by Transport for London that a blue badge scheme for people less able to stand on public transport will be introduced on a permanent basis from Spring 2017, said:

“As someone who has long supported this scheme being introduced as a trial I very much welcome it now being permanently rolled out across London.