Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson, commenting on today’s announcement that the bus routes 507 and 521 will become the first in central London to exclusively run all-electric buses by the end of the year, said:

"I very much welcome the adoption of more electric buses in London.

“However, the Mayor and TfL should refrain from making boastful claims about the adoption of electric buses, especially as today’s announcement is merely confirming a decision made over a year ago.

Caroline Pidgeon AM met with Lib Dem Cllr James Barber, and Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Dulwich and West Norwood Gail Kent on 9th September to look at issues for passengers at Denmark Hill.

Amongst the issues are the lack of gates on the gate line resulting in serious delays for passengers and the need for an additional ticket machine.

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Hackney Lib Dem campaigners out in Dalston Junction on Thursday 8th September to help support Dave Raval, the Lib Dem candidate in the Hackney Borough Mayoral election.

The team dropped leaflets through doors and chatted to local residents about key issues including crime and affordable housing.

The London Assembly has backed the Guide Dogs for the Blind campaign to ensure that there are far more effective sanctions against private hire drivers who refuse access to assistance dogs.

The Assembly agreed a unanimous motion calling for this to be penalised with a level 4 fine, in keeping with offences such as ticket touting.

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“Although the law is crystal clear that it is a criminal offence for taxi and private hire drivers to refuse access to disabled people with assistance dogs, it is sadly the case that such discrimination takes place far too often, especially in relation to private hire drivers.

As the Southern Rail situation gets worse and worse for passengers, Caroline Pidgeon told the SWLondoner website that both management and unions have failed and a change in control is needed:

The dispute over conductor-free trains has reached a point where it does not matter what assurances Southern offer because the RMT union is now striking for the sake of it.

I am hugely concerned about the additional stress this is having on London.

You see the stress on passengers’ faces and it’s not good enough.