Caroline's news

Caroline took part in a street audit with London Living Streets on Friday 6th August as part of her investigation into making walking safer and easier in London. (Go to the London Assembly website for more about the investigation.)

Caroline and the team from City Hall joined Jeremy and Phillipa from Living Streets to walk around the centre of Peckham looking at challenges to walking in different areas. Living Streets is a UK charity which works with local people and government to create safe, attractive, enjoyable streets where the needs of people are prioritised over traffic, where local people are involved in decision making and where walking is the natural choice for short journeys. As part of its work to help improve local environments, Living Streets carries out community street audits.

Caroline has started work on her report looking at making walking in London easier and safer. The report will be reviewing the Mayor’s funding for walking schemes ahead of his 2011 year of walking in London and how he can best achieve his aim to get more people walking. Caroline is out and about throughout August meeting many walking groups, visiting some good examples of pedestrian schemes across the capital.

Hackney Lib Dems held a superb summer garden party on Sunday 1st August with a discussion on the referendum next year for fairer votes. Anthony Barnett who headed up Charter 88 for many years spoke about the four possible outcomes politically from the referendum whist Bridget Fox from Islington spoke about it from a Lib Dem perspective. Anthony’s ideas are posted at the OurKingdom website here.

The afternoon discussion provoked a heated discussion including that AV should not be used but fair or fairer votes instead!

Caroline hosted a meeting with officers from TfL and Kingston Council along with Cllr Simon James, Executive Member for Transport at Kingston to discuss the plans for countdown signs in the Borough.

TfL is currently upgrading all signs to new technology which will allow real time information to mobile phones and online as well as at information signs at bus stops.

The current plans show the same number of signs per borough as the current system but at different locations. This could lead to areas such as Malden and Combe seeing half of their signs removed, even though it is the most populated area in Kingston. Discussion also took place on particular issues at Cromwell Road Bus Garage, where there are currently three countdown signs. TfL is looking at a solution to have all of the information in one sign.

"I was glad to bring everyone together for a frank discussion about the criteria for these signs and to find a way forward. TfL has agreed to review some of the signs and data and Kingston may also look at how they can buy some additional signs" commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat Assembly Group and transport spokesperson, commenting on Transport for London’s sudden decision to cancel most weekend closures on the Northern Line during the month of August after their review of required weekend closures, said: