Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on the temporary extension of Oyster Pay as You Go to most train services across London, said:
“If Oyster Pay As You Go can cover most train services in London for 48 hours, why not everyday? Londoners have today been given a glimpse of what should already be a reality each and every day of the year.
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on today’s National Audit Office report into the failure of Metronet, said:
“This is simply a devastating report for the architect of the Public Private Partnership contract – Gordon Brown.
“It is unforgivable that as much as £410 million of taxpayer’s money has been wasted. The PPP deal that was forced on Londoners by Gordon Brown has been totally exposed as a bad deal for both taxpayers and for passengers.
Caroline took the London Liberal Democrats' campaign for a one-hour bus ticket to Islington last week. She joined Lib Dem Parliamentary campaigner Bridget Fox to talk to local residents about the campaign, and to ask them to sign a petition to the Mayor.
Caroline also joined Sarah Ludford MEP and Lib Dem campaigners from Holborn & St Pancras, meeting voters in Camden and collecting signatures for the petition.
Finally, work has begun to improve the junction between Pentonville Road and Penton Rise, a notorious accident blackspot. This work begins eight months after Lib Dem Councillor George Allan and Lib Dem Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon handed a petition to the Major of London last year calling for vital improvements to the roads around the King's Cross area, including Penton Rise.
Originally, work was due to begin in January 2009, but was delayed by TfL three times, causing growing frustration and growing Lib Dem pressure on the London Mayor to act. Since the last deadline set by TfL for April 2009 there have been a further three accidents. Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Bridget Fox responded to these collisions stating: 'Boris talks a lot about safety, but what we need at Penton Rise is action!'
On Friday 15th May, Caroline attended an event to witness the start of the construction of Crossrail with the Mayor of London and Prime Minister.
Caroline spent the weekend campaigning in Prince's Ward, Vauxhall where there is a council by-election. This was caused by the resignation of the Labour Councillor who had moved some time ago to Bristol - where he is standing for parliament - and yet was still claiming his allowance from Lambeth. Caroline joined Lib Dem Candidate John Roberts and Sarah Ludford MEP meeting local residents.
Local residents in Haringey will have to wait an extra four months after a train company broke promises last week on introducing Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) on local trains. First Capital Connect (FCC), which runs the Overground train line north of Finsbury Park, recently agreed that train users would be able to use PAYG from September this year; but this has now been delayed until at least January 2010.
Higham Hill Lib Dem ward councillors Peter Woollcott, Patrick Smith and Sean Meiszner, have been campaigning for a new route between Highams Park station and Tottenham Hale for years.
They argue that as the area is one of the most deprived in the country, and more than a mile from Walthamstow Central Station, a route is desperately needed.
The group met with Lib Dem London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon on Thursday who will lobby the mayor and Transport for London (TfL).
Mr Woollcott said the route would bring much benefit to the area.
He said: “There are proposals to build 240 homes in Sutherland Road, 600 in Banbury Park, and the possible Walthamstow Stadium development, so we need facilities in place now.
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, was joined by Tom Brake MP, councillors and campaigners from across London this morning at the launch of a Londonwide campaign to persuade the Mayor to introduce one hour bus tickets.
At the busy Vauxhall Bus Station, bus passengers were provided with information about the new campaign and invited to sign a petition.
Caroline Pidgeon 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.
Bus users on the Horn Park estate have been given an apology from Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, following the intervention by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson.
Caroline Pidgeon raised the issue of the B15 bus service not actually serving Horn Park estate, after being briefed by Greenwich Councillor Paul Webbewood, who represents the estate.
Caroline Pidgeon said:
"It is disturbing that bus operators consider it acceptable to shorten a designated bus route and inconvenience residents on the Horn Park estate. The Mayor and Transport for London must ensure the contract with Arriva is fully enforced."