Caroline's news

Plans uncovered by London Councils show Government proposals to cut funding for the popular Freedom Pass - the scheme that gives older people and disabled residents free travel across London.

The government plans to seize £50 million from London to shore up funding gaps in other parts of England. Unlike other parts of the country that receive 100% of the costs of the free travel scheme, in London local council tax payers pay a third. These government cuts would reduce that support to 50%.

Responding to this morning's announcement that the Mayor of London will appoint a panel to monitor the progress of London Underground in managing the Metronet contracts for upgrading the Tube, Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson and Chair of the London Assembly's Transport Committee said:

"It is appalling that Boris Johnson will be judge and jury in this case by being allowed to appoint all the members of a supposedly "independent" panel to monitor London Underground's work. These Panel members will have to be approved by the Transport Minister, but if in a few months the minister happens to be a Conservative, where's the independence in that?

Caroline joined local campaigners in Islington on Monday 26 October to support the launch of their access to Finsbury Park station campaign.

The Mayor of London has announced the deferral of many step free access schemes at various tube stations all over the capital including Finsbury Park in Islington.

Liberal Democrats Chris Nicholson and Caroline Pidgeon have been assured by Lambeth Borough Police Commander Nick Ephgrave that there are no routine armed patrols of Brixton streets and estates. The assurance came in the light of press reports that police officers armed with sub machine guns were patrolling streets and estates in Brixton.

Chris Nicholson, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Streatham, and Caroline Pidgeon the Liberal Democrat MPA Link member for Lambeth, on hearing the reports, urgently sought clarification from the Borough Police Commander. They also wanted to know why the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group had not been informed of this change in approach.

The London Assembly today overwhelmingly agreed a motion calling on the Mayor to explore a proposal to introduce a ‘one hour bus ticket’ to be available on ‘Pay As You Go’ Oyster cards.

The proposal, which would enable passengers to use more than one bus during a 60-minute period without paying more than £1.00, would be more affordable and convenient for Londoners using public transport.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, who proposed today’s original motion, said:
“You can already switch from tube to tube on the same ticket, so it makes real sense to allow people to do the same with buses. It really is unfair that people who use Oyster pay as you go have to pay a new fare every time they change buses.

"One hour bus tickets already operate successfully in Paris, Rome and Brussels. It is now time London caught up and gave bus users a fair deal.