Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has criticised Transport for London over the £20m it has wasted in starting and then abandoning work at six tube stations.

Caroline said:
"Transport for London have shown incredible incompetence in starting work on step free access at six underground stations and then cancelling the work before its completion."

You can read the full story, as covered by the BBC and the Evening Standard.

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, and Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, felt the cold on Monday morning at South Bermondsey station. After being contacted by a local resident, Simon and Caroline visited the station to discuss the wet and windy conditions with commuters.

Simon commented “all those who use South Bermondsey station will know that it is extremely exposed. The current shelter is very small and inadequate. Recently, two of the roof panels have blown off. People waiting on the platforms face cold winds, particularly with the recent weather which we have been having. People are often forced to wait on the stairs as there is nowhere else to wait. This is completely unsatisfactory and dangerous.

Simon is raising the matter with Southern Railways who have recently been able to fund the repainting of the station in their colours, but have done nothing to improve comfort for their passengers.

Lewisham Liberal Democrats brought Caroline Pidgeon AM, the London Assembly Transport Committee Chair, to Hither Green station to see the problems passengers face in accessing the station.

Local campaigners are calling for the closed-up ramps at Hither Green Station to be re-opened to ease access to and from the station. Currently only one ramp is open to passengers using the station. Re-opening the ramps would allow direct access to the platforms, and avoid the current need to use bridges to get to and from the station.

Caroline Pidgeon said:
"Re-opening the closed ramps would massively improve access to this station for those with mobility problems, pushchairs or luggage. I have just launched a five point plan to improve train stations across the capital, and better accessibility is one of my priorities."

Families across Chessington and Hook are celebrating the success of a three year campaign for a new school bus to take local pupils to Hinchley Wood School. This will reduce traffic on the road and provide a quicker, safer route to school for many local children.

Transport for London confirmed just before Christmas their proposal to extend a journey on the current 467 bus route to and from Hinchley Wood School at school times. Subject to consultation with stakeholders (including the local authority, London TravelWatch and the police) the new service will be introduced from Monday 22nd February 2010.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, commenting on the steep fare rises that the Mayor is imposing on London transport services for 2010, said:

"For the second year in a row the Mayor is punishing Londoners with an inflation busting increase in fares. Incredibly, even a short bus journey involving just one change will set people back £2.40.