London is set to see two pure electric buses on its roads from next month with four more starting in the Spring.
The details of this initiative are hidden away in Transport for London’s Commissioner report to the TfL Board published yesterday.
Electric buses are increasingly being adopted in European cities and in cities across the world. London’s final adoption of them is a clear example of the capital now trying to catch up with other major cities.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on today’s London Assembly Transport Committee report which recommends that the Mayor and TfL examine new fare and ticket options, including a part-time travelcard, said:
"The Mayor needs to recognise that fresh thinking on fares is needed.
Responding to a report investigating the causes of the 3-year overrun in the project to refurbish the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels, Caroline Pidgeon said: "Finally some information has come to light as to why the upgrades to the tunnels took so long and incredibly are still in such a poor condition.
"Reading the report it does seem that fault lies equally with Greenwich Council and the contractors.
"Greenwich Council must now apologise to the tens of thousands of pedestrians and cyclists who rely on these tunnels but were never kept properly informed while the disruption over the tunnel closures dragged on over such a long period of time."
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s decision to rule out further consideration of a Travelcard to cover part-time workers, said:
“The Mayor’s categorical statement that he will not consider further introducing a travelcard to cover part-time workers is deeply disappointing.
“Already 900,000 people in London work part-time and the figure is rapidly increasing.
An ambitious plan to deliver 270,000 new affordable homes in the capital by 2018 has been set out by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Members Stephen Knight and Caroline Pidgeon in a recent report. The plans set out to turn around the total failure over the last 35 years to build a sufficient number of affordable homes in the capital, leading to not only soaring rents but also a soaring Housing Benefit bill.
The bold proposals highlight seven changes in policy that are needed, relating to London boroughs, the Mayor and central Government.