London-wide + Southwark stories

Fighting overdevelopment at the Old Police Station Garden on Walworth Road

Caroline Pidgeon and Jelil Ladipo, Newington Lib Dem councillors, joined Canon Grahame Shaw from St Paul's Lorrimore local square, along with many local residents, to protest against overdevelopment of the Old Police Station Garden on Walworth Road.

“This is an overdevelopment of this site. Ideally we would like it to become a small community green space – much needed in this busy part of Walworth. The planning application is simply a bad design and far too big for this site, ignoring the historic design on many local buildings including the old police station. I hope the Council will reject it” commented Caroline.

13 October 2009 - 8:11pm

St Paul's playground opens for Walworth young people

Lib Dem Councillor for Newington Ward Cllr Caroline Pidgeon and local campaigner Jeremy Leach joined local residents and children at the official opening of the St Paul’s playground in Lorrimore Square, Walworth on Friday 9th October.

The new playground for football, basketball and other games was funded following years of bidding to various charities and organisations by Canon Grahame Shaw at St Paul’s Church. Local Lib Dem Councillors James Gurling and Caroline Pidgeon have supported the project from start to finish.

12 October 2009 - 9:55pm

Dial-a-Ride fails disabled people across London

Disabled and elderly people across the whole of London have faced a growing number of refused trips from Transport for London’s Dial-a-Ride service.

Following extensive questioning by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, the Mayor has been forced to release figures showing that over the last two years there has been more than a 50% increase in the number of trips refused to disabled and elderly people who rely on the Dial-a-Ride service.

Commenting on the figures, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“Three years ago Transport for London promised disabled Londoners a far better deal from Dial-a-Ride. They specifically promised that the number of refused trips would halve in just two years. Yet instead of falling the number of refused trips have actually gone up by more than 50%. It is simply appalling every day of the year more than 400 trips are now refused to Dial-a-Ride users.

28 September 2009 - 9:55pm

Not making all London Bridge platforms full-length is short-sighted

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.

12 September 2009 - 11:23am

Investigating Lordship Lane parking issues

Caroline Pidgeon AM set up a site visit with Transport for London and Southwark Council at the end of August to listen to local concerns from Cllr Lewis Robinson, a local Police Community Support Officer and local shop keepers at parking restrictions on Lordship Lane, outside AM Express Dry Cleaners.

The group discussed the concerns about the tight restrictions which affect local businesses. Following the meeting, TfL and Southwark Council officers have agreed to do some traffic modelling of options including whether the red route bays could allow stopping for 20 minutes between 10am and 4pm and also between 10am and 12 noon and 2 to 4pm.

“I was delighted to help College Ward Councillor Lewis Robinson and local businesses to set up this site visit and to have a look again at options for short term parking for the local passing trade for this parade of shops. I hope that all options can be considered” commented Caroline.

11 September 2009 - 10:05pm

Boris must stop dithering on fares

At today's Mayor's Question Time, Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, criticised Boris Johnson's repeated evasiveness in answering questions about 2010 transport fares in 2010, saying:

"This time last year the Mayor had already told Londoners what the fares package would be for 2009. Now a year later the Mayor seems incapable of even saying when a decision will be announced for fares in 2010. Why is the Mayor dithering on fares?

9 September 2009 - 9:47pm

Lib Dems highlight risks to public as bus CCTV footage is destroyed

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, and Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, have been alarmed to discover that CCTV footage on buses is only kept for one week. After being contacted by a constituent who was allegedly assaulted by a driver on a 42 bus, Simon was shocked to discover the Transport for London and East Thames Buses had no record of the incident because CCTV footage had been destroyed.

4 September 2009 - 8:37pm

Northern Line could close from 10pm on weekdays

The Evening Standard reports on plans for sections of the Northern Line to close at 10pm on weeknights, as signalling systems are replaced over the next two years.

In the article, Caroline gives her views:

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib-Dem transport spokeswoman on the London Assembly, encouraged TfL and Tube Lines to “think outside the box” and suggested that full-line closures, lasting several weeks at a time, may be more efficient than repeated weekend shut-downs.

2 September 2009 - 10:44pm

Brandon Festival success

Caroline visited the Brandon Festival and Fun Day on Saturday 22nd August. Organised by the Brandon 1 Tenants and Residents Association, in particular Committee Secretary Jeff Barnett and Chair Ethel Frampton, the day was a huge success with lots of families from all over the estate and neighbouring streets enjoying the summer weather and fun activities.

31 August 2009 - 9:22pm

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