Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined College Ward Cllr Lewis Robinson, local resident Tania Wallden and an engineer from Transport for London to look at the various problems on the South Circular at the junction of Alleyn Park. The site visit followed a meeting earlier in the year where Cllr Robinson explained the problems at this junction as well as other transport concerns with Transport for London.

Since Transport for London removed railings along the side of the pavement at this dangerous corner, local residents have seen many accidents including several where cars have mounted the pavement and hit the boundary walls and fences of properties, causing real damage. Transport for London has responded to this by adding various bits of street clutter to try to resolve the problem.

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on today’s announcement that London's cycle hire scheme will expand into west and south-west London over the next two years, said:

“Everyone wants to see the cycle hire scheme expanded. The scheme’s expansion is obviously great news for the areas of London that will now be covered, but the Mayor should have today told Londoners which other areas will get the cycle hire scheme as it is expanded in future years.

“The Mayor also needs to answer a key question - why has the sponsorship arrangement with Barclays has been so casually extended for a further three years, instead of being put out to a competitive tender when the five year contract expires in 2015?

Caroline Pidgeon AM was contacted recently by Olympia Venues about the cancellation without consultation of the weekday District line service to their nearest station. The changes are scheduled to take place from December. Not only are local businesses such as Olympia upset by this, so are many local residents who currently use this service.

Caroline therefore arranged a site visit for the people from Olympia, a local resident who has been campaigning on the issue, and Richard Parry, a Director at London Underground and Rail, to look at the issues first hand and try to reach a solution.

Seconding a London Assembly motion calling for consideration to be given to a permanent 20mph speed limit on Blackfriars Bridge, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

“A third of the peak time traffic across Blackfriars Bridge are cyclists and we already know that they are at significantly more risk when travelling across bridges than they are on similar city roads. That’s why we want Transport for London (TfL) to take a robust look at the safety of all users on Blackfriars Bridge and for the Mayor to use the facts to put safety first."

Caroline Pidgeon has joined Ealing Liberal Democrats to launch a petition to get the Council and the Mayor of London to make a commitment for a fully integrated public transport interchange at Ealing Broadway.

The present station is no longer fit for purpose, say the Lib Dems. Rebuilding it for Crossrail is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make it a proper interchange we can be proud of, with step-free access for passengers to move freely between trains, tubes, buses and taxis.