Caroline's news

Local Liberal Democrats held discussions with Transport for London at City Hall this week to demand action to tackle the daily gridlock on Jamaica Road and the Rotherhithe peninsula.

Lib Dem councillors and representatives from Simon Hughes MP's office attended the talks on Tuesday (12 November), hosted by Leader of the GLA Liberal Democrats Caroline Pidgeon AM.

TfL used the meeting to discuss early ideas for changes at the roundabout after on-going complaints about queues going into Rotherhithe tunnel blocking access.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the fourth London cyclist to die on London’s roads in just eight days, said:

“Our sympathy must be with the families and friends of all these people who have had their lives so cruelly taken away in recent days.

“It is now absolutely imperative that the Mayor and Transport for London redouble their efforts to make our roads safer for everyone.”

Commenting on the latest cable car passenger figures for the Thames cable car which show that weekly passenger figures are dramatically lower than a year ago Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group said:

“If there was a bonfire of Mayoral vanity schemes the cable car deserves to be put at the very top.”

The London Assembly motion has called on Mayor Boris Johnson to take swift action to make cycle routes in London as safe as possible, including responding fully to criticisms made during the inquests into the deaths of cyclists Brian Dorling and Philippine de Gerin-Ricard.

Following criticism from police and other witnesses, Coroner Mary Hassell expressed concerns over the safety of Cycle Superhighway 2 in a Prevention of Future Deaths report, which stated that she felt “there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken”.

As a pilot of "wave and pay" technology on the Tube approaches, Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Lib Dem London Assembly Group, said:

“It is time the Mayor gave some clear answers on how wave and pay technology will finally be rolled out across the Tube, DLR, trams and Overground.

“He needs to clarify his long-term vision for Oyster and ensure its fares always stay the cheapest available.”