Campaigning articles

Streatham Police Station closure plans to be dropped

Local residents and Streatham Liberal Democrats are celebrating the news that the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is planning to drop its plans to close Streatham Police station.

A panel of the MPA was set up last year to reconsider the controversial plans to close police stations across London following vocal protests from residents and Liberal Democrats across the capital. In Streatham local Liberal Democrats led by Parliamentary Spokesman Chris Nicholson collected a petition of more than 2000 signatures opposing the closure. The petition was presented to a meeting of the MPA last year which as a result decided to set up the panel to reconsider the plans. It is understood that the panel is now recommending that the MPA proceeds with the proposals in a few Boroughs where there was support for the plans but will drop the plans for Lambeth.

21 September 2009 - 10:23pm

Transport campaigns in Forest Hill

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.

11 September 2009 - 10:35pm

Graffiti problems at St John's station

Caroline visited St John’s station in Lewisham to witness the huge amount of graffiti that appears all over the station and on surrounding walls.

“There needs to be a simple way to report such graffiti and other environmental nuisance at stations and other transport areas as there are so many train companies and public bodies involved it is difficult to work out who is responsible. I have called on the Mayor of London to look at introducing such a website or web pages” commented Caroline. (See Caroline's question to Boris Johnson here.)

11 September 2009 - 9:55pm

Fury at plan to close station exit

Southeastern Trains' plan to close the Tesco side exit from platform 4 at Lewisham Station has been met with fury by local residents. The rail operator intends to divert passengers down a new staircase or lift and under the railway to the entrance of Lewisham DLR Station. It is a detour which will add at least four minutes to journey times.

Caroline visited the exit at rush hour with local councillors and Lewisham Deptford Lib Dem Campaigner Tam Langley, to see the number of people using the exit.

“Southeastern trains need to reconsider this decision and ensure that all entrances to the station can be used” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

11 September 2009 - 8:22pm

New train secretly axed

Caroline recently visited Lewisham with Lib Dem Campaigner Tam Langley and local councillors to look at the wider impact on train services of the East London Line Extension and proposals to delete the South London Line.

As part of the deal to secure the East London Line Extension, Transport for London and the Government agreed behind closed doors to scrap the promised Bellingham to Victoria service. This was being introduced to mitigate the impact of the planned closure of the South London Line which runs on a loop form Victoria to London Bridge. The planned service would have been four trains and hour from Bellingham to Victoria via Crofton Park, and provided a lifeline for Lewisham residents.

The Lib Dem Prospective MP for Lewisham Deptford Tam Langley, said, "TfL are supposed to announce any change of plans for this new service publicly, but they seem to just hope local people won't notice. We hope they will reconsider”.

11 September 2009 - 8:04pm

Enfield rail travellers petition for Oyster Pay As You Go

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Enfield Liberal Democrats at the Enfield Town Show on Saturday 5th September. The local Lib Dems are campaigning hard to persuade the Mayor of London, to sort out the derelict homes on TfL land on the North Circular.

“So many people stopped by the stall for a chat and to sign our petition, as well as to support our One Hour Bus ticket campaign” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

She also highlighted the local rail travellers' petition to have pay-as-you-go Oyster cards accepted at Enfield’s overground stations.

Caroline said:

In his transport manifesto, the Mayor stressed the importance of holding an 'emergency' train summit with the train operating companies (TOCs) to ensure that Oyster was available at every train station.

One year later the harsh reality is that no train summit has been called and every promise the Mayor has made about Oyster extension has been delayed again and again. Quite frankly Boris Johnson has seen more train delays than Reggie Perrin.

9 September 2009 - 9:32pm

Caroline joins Camden Lib Dems' 20mph campaign

Caroline Pidgeon, the chair of the London Assembly transport committee, came to the launch of a Liberal Democrat campaign in Camden to introduce 20mph limits on streets across the wards of King’s Cross and Bloomsbury.

Caroline said: “Lib Dems London-wide are pushing for greater action on speeding than either the current or previous London mayors have been prepared to take.”

Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner for Holborn and St Pancras Jo Shaw, and King’s Cross Lib Dems, have welcomed the fact that money will be spent on improving the dangerous junction on Marchmont Street. But they said that pedestrians deserve to feel safe everywhere.

Jo Shaw commented: “Residents across the south of Camden have told that they feel unsafe and uncomfortable walking around the streets of their own neighbourhood.

“A 20mph limit for our streets would at a stroke make the traffic less intimidating, less noisy and, most importantly, unlikely to hurt anybody.”

9 September 2009 - 8:52pm

Caroline Pidgeon supports councillors fighting for Blackheath train services

London Assembly Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon AM led a delegation of Greenwich Liberal Democrat councillors to lobby South East Trains Public Affairs Manager Mike Gibson about plans to cut commuter train services at Blackheath Station.

Caroline Pidgeon, who is Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee commented: “It does seem extraordinary that with more and more passengers using rail to get to work, a train operator is withdrawing commuter trains.”

4 September 2009 - 8:44pm

Lib Dems back bikers faced with foot tunnel closure

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has called on Greenwich Council Leader Chris Roberts to provide an alternative river crossing for hundreds of cyclists when the Greenwich Foot Tunnel closes for up to 18 months for renovation. Cyclists and pedestrians are also threatened with the closure of the 'sister' Woolwich Foot Tunnel at the same time.

Cllr Pidgeon met a group of cyclists at the Cutty Sark outside the south entrance to the Foot Tunnel with Liberal Democrat group leader on Greenwich Council Brian Woodcraft, Cllr Paul Webbewood, and Lib Dem councillors from Lewisham.

After using the lift and inspecting the Tunnel, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"Chris Roberts and Boris Johnson cannot just leave hundreds of cyclists who depend on the Foot Tunnel to get to work every day without an alternative. They face either biking many extra miles to cross Tower Bridge or to use the Woolwich Ferry. The Blackwall and Rotherhithe Tunnels are too dangerous for cyclists and DLR rules do not permit bikes. The Council and the Mayor must find a workable alternative."

2 September 2009 - 10:31pm

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