Caroline's news

On Thursday 28th January Caroline went on a visit to look at the new East London Line Extension works and to view the extension of the Docklands Light Railway.

Caroline visited New Cross Gate Depot and saw the new trains for the line, as well as looking at the new station and works at Shoreditch.

The DLR visit included a trip out to Stratford and down to Woolwich via City Airport.

“The extension of the DLR and the works on the new East London Line were very impressive and it is great to see so much investment going into public transport. I can’t wait for the East London Line to reopen” said Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon.

Following on from the huge success of the Fun Day in Pasley Park last summer, a new "Friends of Pasley Park" group has been formed.

The Fun Day celebrated 175 years of the original Surrey Zoological Gardens in West Walworth. The historic gardens consisted of a zoo that rivalled Regents Park, wonderful gardens and a lake around which many amazing shows took place. It was also the first place in the country where giraffes roamed!

“The summer event was just like a village fete and we were delighted to have helped raise the funds needed to put on such a great day. From the giant animals made by the children to the Victorian fun fair and walks, there was something for all the family to enjoy” commented Lib Dem Cllr James Gurling.

For many years, Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes and Lib Dem Councillors have been campaigning for improvements in the Kennington area, particularly around the tube station.

This area can all too often seem forgotten as it sits on the boundary between Lambeth and Southwark, with Transport for London in charge of Kennington Park Road.

For many people this area is the gateway to Southwark, and yet the environment around the tube station is not welcoming enough.

Your Lib Dem Team have launched a five point action plan calling for:

1. Improvements to the pavements;
2. More secure cycle parking
3. Better street lights
4. Improvements to the road surface for all road users particularly cyclists; and
5. Kennington Tube Station to be re-zoned from Zone 2 to a boundary 1/2 station.

Newington Lib Dem Focus Team, working with local residents, is campaigning to transform the old police station garden, on the Walworth Road, into a community garden or park.

After years of standing empty, the old police station on Carter Place off the Walworth Road has been turned into flats. But the front garden area has now been sold to another company who want to build shops and flats on this open space.

Lib Dem Councillors and local residents put in strong objections and just before Christmas the plans were thrown out by Southwark Council. However, we fear that further applications will be submitted to build on the garden.

Caroline Pidgeon AM has joined Liberal Democrat councillors in Brent in expressing deep disappointment at the news that Boris Johnson has refused to act to provide more buses in the Brentfield Road area.

A huge petition from local residents was submitted to the Mayor by Liberal Democrats at a formal Question Time session last month.

Brentfield Road runs between Brent Park Tesco and Harlesden Station and is also home to the prestigious Neasden Temple, but is currently served by only two buses, the 206 and the PR2.

Transport for London also admitted recently that the frequency of buses on the PR2 route had deteriorated significantly in recent months.

Nevertheless, Mayor Boris Johnson replied to the Liberal Democrat-organised petition with a letter concluding: “TfL consider that Brentfield Road is adequately served by these routes and there are no plans at present to provide further bus services here.”

Lib Dem assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, the Chair of the Assembly's Transport Committee, said:
"There is clearly a huge demand for a bus in the Brentfield Road area and it is very disappointing that the Mayor refuses to listen to local people."