Campaigning articles

Campaigning in Ladywell Ward in Lewisham

Caroline joined Lewisham Liberal Democrats and local candidate Ingrid Chetram in Ladywell Ward in Lewisham on Saturday.

The team were out knocking on doors, talking to local people about a wide range of issues including the local Crofton park library which is threatened with closure, and the need for a strong local champion for the area.

“It was a pleasure to knock on doors with Ingrid Chetram who has lived in the area for 20 years. We had a great response from local people who are keen to have a hard-working councillor who knows the issues in the area and will stand up for them” added Caroline.

28 October 2010 - 10:57pm

Mayor and TfL need to solve South Woodford flooding

London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon has joined local Lib Dem councillors in the fight to sort out the problem of flooding in the underpass below the A406 at Maybank Rd/Mulberry Way in South Woodford.

Every time there is heavy rain the underpass floods meaning local people have to wade through the water, or risk their safety by crossing the main roads at Charlie Brown’s roundabout.

After pressure from local councillors and residents, TfL have installed new drains and pumps in the underpass. But now it has been revealed that the drains are filling with clean water, probably from an underground spring, and the pumps can’t cope.

25 October 2010 - 10:39pm

Tower Hamlets Mayoral election

Caroline joined Lib Dem Mayoral Candidate John Griffiths, Cllr Stephanie Eaton and the local team out and about on a walkabout on Saturday 16th October.

“It was really interesting to talk to local residents in the market and also local traders in the shops to hear about their concerns. In particular it was clear people feel Tower Hamlets Council is not supporting local markets and that the local shops are being affected by high rents and business rates” commented Caroline.

25 October 2010 - 10:29pm

Out and about in Kentish Town

Caroline joined local Liberal Democrats, including Nick Russell, in Kentish Town last week, where there is a by-election for one of the local council seats. Nick was one of the Lib Dem Councillors for the area previously.

“It was really good knocking on doors and talking to local people about issues that they are worried about. Clearly people are concerned about the terrible state of the economy after years of a Labour Government spending beyond their means. However, education was an important issue for a number of residents as well as very local issues which Nick and the local Lib Dems are helping with” commented Caroline.

25 October 2010 - 10:21pm

Ticket Office closures at South Woodford

Caroline Pidgeon AM recently joined Lib Dem Cllr Gwyneth Deakins at South Woodford station to highlight the closure of their ticket office by the Mayor of London.

Cllr Deakins and Caroline have been trying to find out the rationale for the cut in hours at the ticket office which will see South Woodfood ticket office on the Eastbound platform closed completely whilst on the Westbound platform it will be open for a couple of hours or so each day.

9 October 2010 - 6:31pm

Pedestrians at risk from Tower Hamlets crossings

The East London Advertiser newspaper reports on Transport for London's admission, after pressure on Boris Johnson by London Assembly Lib Dem leader Caroline Pidgeon, that 115 pedestrian crossings across London do not meet government safety standards.

Caroline visited the dangerous Whitechapel Road crossing with Lib Dem candidate for Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Griffiths, who said:

It’s outrageous that vulnerable people in our borough are being put at risk by the refusal of the London Mayor to rectify this admitted problem more quickly.

The council should also really be lobbying harder on this.

You can read the full article here.

8 October 2010 - 6:39pm

Transport for All’s protest against ticket office closures

Caroline joined members of Transport for All outside City Hall on Wednesday 8th September as they protested against the proposed cuts to staff at tube stations. The Mayor is looking to reduce ticket office opening hours by around 7500 hours every week across the capital, and up to 800 staff may lose their jobs.

“For many people with disabilities and those with other mobility issues, the idea of reduced staffing at stations is simply unacceptable. The suggestion that machines can substitute someone in a ticket office when, for example, you might have a problem with your Oyster card, or need a boundary ticket, is just wrong. I am very supportive of flexible staff who can be out in the ticket hall helping passengers and then go into the ticket office to issue a ticket and help with fares advice as needed. The Mayor and TfL need to rethink their plans now” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

11 September 2010 - 11:17am

Caroline joins Enfield Lib Dems at Town Show

Caroline joined Enfield Liberal Democrats at their stall at the Enfield Town Show on Sunday 5th September. The local Lib Dem Team were out in force, collecting signatures against the closures of ticket offices, as well as getting people signing up for more information from the yes campaign for the referendum on voting reform in May.

“It was great to go to the Enfield Town Show once again and to talk to local residents about issues such as Ticket Office closures, the Freedom Pass and housing in the capital” commented Caroline.

11 September 2010 - 11:10am

Lib Dems highlight shameful safety risks of Earl's Court crossing

Earl's Court has been revealed as having one of London's most inaccessible and unsafe pedestrian crossings.

Research by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, shows that a pedestrian crossing on Earl's Court Road (junction with Bramham Gardens and Earl's Court Square) is one of a handful in London that are not only breaking national safety standards over the minimum time for pedestrians to cross the road but is also failing to provide any assistance for blind people to cross the road.

Caroline, who obtained the information following a series of written questions to the Mayor of London, said:

"At present the Mayor of London seems to put the interests of pedestrians at the very bottom of his priorities. It is simply shameful that there remain pedestrian crossings in London that are so inaccessible and unsafe.

"The Mayor should ensure as a matter of urgency that every pedestrian crossing in London is safe and accessible for everyone."

1 September 2010 - 9:12pm

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