Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem leader in the London Assembly, has joined Brent Lib Dem councillors in criticising Transport for London's waste of £8,000 installing Help Points at Neasden tube station - and never putting them into use for passengers.

The Mayor recently confirmed in answer to a question from Caroline that Neasden is the only tube station to have had Help Points fitted which are then not used. He also confirmed that "on average the cost is £4,000 for the unit. The two disused Help Points at Neasden could have cost around £8,000 of taxpayers’ money.

The national Public Accounts Committee found that £410 million had been wasted by the former Labour Government by failing to properly risk manage of having various parts of the management of the Tube leased to the private sector on 30-year leases.

Commenting on the announcement by Transport for London (TfL) that drivers are spending less time sitting at traffic lights after a review of more than 1,000 sets of lights Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly group leader and transport spokesperson, said:

"Nobody likes sitting in a car waiting at a red light for too long, but are London's drivers profiting at the expense of pedestrians?

As the London Assembly's Transport Committee publishes its report on the shortcomings of TfL's Dial-A-Ride service for people with disabilities, the committee's deputy chair, Caroline Pidgeon AM, has commented:
"It cannot be right that Dial-a-Ride is providing fewer journeys than it did eight years ago but is spending 70 per cent more on the service.

"The improvements to some aspects of the service are welcome, but it’s disappointing that people are still experiencing some of the same old problems with the booking system.

"People rely on Dial-a-Ride and are entitled to expect a consistent and reliable service. I urge Transport for London to take the necessary steps to make this a reality."

Commenting on the decision by Transport for London to cancel the planned early evening closures on the Northern Line, London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat group leader and spokesperson for Transport, said:

"I welcome the fact that TfL have cancelled these early evening closures. I have spoken to many small businesses and local residents and know what problems these closures would have caused.

On Saturday 26th June, Caroline joined Lib Dem candidate Felicia Taiwo in the Goresbrook ward in Barking. The team knocked on doors talking to local residents about issues from the state of the economy to the need for a strong representative for the area.

“Given that every other councillor in Barking is Labour, local residents clearly felt they need a strong local Champion from their neighbourhood to stand up for Goresbrook. Felicia Taiwo lives locally and is a really energetic person. I hope local residents will back Felicia on Thursday 8th July.”

Photo: Caroline joined Felicia Taiwo and the local Lib Dem team in Goresbrook