Caroline's news

In an article for Lib Dem News, Caroline discusses future directions for congestion charging in London - and road pricing in general.

She says:

...what we chiefly need now are technologies that give us many more options.

In London, we feel that better technology, and a charging system that is graded so that the worst polluters pay most, is the way forward. Revenue from congestion charging has by law to be spent on transport improvements for London - an essential element of fiscal transparency sorely needed for national politics.

Read the full article here.

Caroline Pidgeon joined Camden Lib Dems at the Marchmont Street Festival in the King's Cross area. She appears in the Lib Dems' video of the event, talking about the "Twenty Is Plenty" campaign for 20mph speed limits to make the area's roads safe for pedestrians and cyclists.

An independent and wide ranging review of the licensing of cab drivers is now necessary following the recent reports of an individual convicted of manslaughter applying to become a taxi driver and having already received a private hire driver’s licence, says Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson.

The London Assembly Member, who chairs the London Assembly Transport Committee, has now written to Boris Johnson urging him to ensure that changes are made to the proposed review being undertaken by the Public Carriage Office (PCO).

Caroline Pidgeon, as Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has written to Transport for London to raise concerns that current plans to increase capacity at London Bridge station do not include extending all the platforms for twelve carriages.

The letter highlights the Transport Committee’s recent report, The Big Squeeze: Rail overcrowding in London, which urged the Department for Transport (DfT) to fully extend all platforms at London Bridge as part of the Thameslink project.

Current plans will see two platforms remaining shorter. The Committee is calling on TfL to consider the consequences of this, and possible funding options, as part of its South London line study.

On Friday 4th September Caroline visited Forest Hill with local Lib Dem Councillors John Russell and Alex Feakes to look at a number of transport issues.

Talking to local residents and members of the Forest Hill Society, Caroline heard about several key transport issues, several of which Caroline has tabled questions to the Mayor about:

1. The proposed reduction in train services from Forest Hill at peak times and in evenings and weekends to Charing Cross;

2. The dangerous junction of Forest Hill Road and Sydenham Rise;

3. The virtually invisible bus stops on Sydenham Rise due to overgrown trees, bushes and no dedicated bus space to pull in by the kerb; and

4. Issues of visitor traffic around the Horniman Museum, congesting local streets.