Campaigning articles

Lib Dems force Streatham High Road rethink

Traffic officers have been forced to do a last-minute rethink of plans for Streatham High Road following a protest by Liberal Democrat GLA member Caroline Pidgeon, supported by local Liberal Democrat councillors.

With work due to begin on Monday, it emerged that a plan to improve conditions for pedestrians by widening the pavement is instead going to narrow the pavement and make it more crowded.

Following a site meeting this week with Caroline and Lib Dem ward councillors, officers from Transport for London agreed to look again at their proposals.

20 February 2009 - 11:22pm

Your views matter - Croydon tram users' survey

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, made an early morning visit to Addiscombe’s tram stop to take part in an extensive survey of tram users that local Croydon Liberal Democrats are now conducting.

Caroline was invited by Stephen Dering, the Liberal Democrat Croydon Central parliamentary candidate, to the launch of the survey, which started early this week. The survey is seeking to find out people’s views on a wide range of issues relating to the whole tram network.

Caroline, who is vice chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:
"This is an important survey. The views of tram users really matter. This survey is a key way of ensuring that concerns of tram users are heard by Transport for London and that improvements are made."

14 February 2009 - 10:12pm

Bus stops are not an optional extra!

Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, is set to question Boris Johnson over the absence of bus stops on Ladbroke Grove despite a brand new local bus route having just started.

Caroline Pidgeon has now tabled a question to the Mayor, urging him to ensure that Transport for London provides at least one bus stop and shelter to serve residents who want to make use of the new 228 bus service.

The lack of a bus stop on Ladbroke Grove on the bus route heading from the station to Shepherds Bush and the Central Middlesex Hospital was brought to the attention of Caroline Pidgeon by local Liberal Democrat campaigner Carol Caruana.

After visiting Ladbroke Grove and seeing for herself the unusually long distance that exists on Ladbroke Grove without any bus stop, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“I recognise that a few local residents objected to there even being a bus route, however this is no justification for the bus route not now providing a proper service to the far larger number of residents who rely on public transport.

14 February 2009 - 10:07pm

Small businesses cannot afford congestion charge delay

The harmful effects of the western extension of the congestion charging zone were seen at first hand by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, on her recent visit to the Portobello area. The fact-finding visit was organised by local Liberal Democrat campaigner Carol Caruana, who was keen to update the London Assembly on the impact of the extension on local shops and market stallholders.

After the visit Caroline commented:
“For a long time I have been aware of the harmful effects of the congestion charge extension, however there is no substitute for seeing first hand the harmful impact it is having. Trader after trader told me how they lost business since the congestion charge was extended. The congestion charge extension could not end sooner for businesses in this area.

14 February 2009 - 9:59pm

Improvements to Lambeth bus service welcomed by Caroline Pidgeon

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, has received assurances from Transport for London (TfL) that significant improvements will take place on an important Lambeth bus route.

Caroline took up the issue with TfL after concerns were raised by local residents and Liberal Democrat councillors. She has now been informed by TfL that the 59 bus route that runs from Streatham to Euston bus station, via Brixton station, Lambeth North station and Aldwych, will see far more buses running northward. The improvements should take place towards the end of the year.

6 February 2009 - 9:17pm

TfL dithering over dangerous Catford junction

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Assembly Transport spokesperson, recently visited the Tiger’s Head junction on Bromley Road in south Catford to discover at first hand how dangerous the junction is.

After visiting the junction and being briefed by Downham councillor Julia Fletcher she said:
“The extensive delays to improving this junction were brought to my attention by local Liberal Democrat councillors last Autumn and in November I raised the issue with a question to Boris Johnson.

“For many years Transport for London have known full well just how dangerous this junction is, especially for children, some of whom need to cross the junction to attend a local school. It is simply disgraceful that pedestrians are expected to cross four lanes of busy traffic with no pedestrian lights to assist them.

6 February 2009 - 9:16pm

TfL taken to task over Brixton works

Improvement works in Brixton town centre are causing chaos for commuters, according to Liberal Democrat GLA member, Caroline Pidgeon.

Ms Pidgeon met with senior officials from Transport for London (TfL) in Brixton on Monday at rush hour to see for themselves the mess left by contractors on the site.

In an hour-long briefing with local Liberal Democrat Councillors Ashley Lumsden and Roger Giess and Streatham's Parliamentary Spokesman, Chris Nicholson, officers were taken to task over ongoing traffic congestion, health and safety risks from misplaced barriers around the works, and piles of debris left in mounds near street lights and bus stops.

21 January 2009 - 11:55pm

Supporting David Schmitz in Seven Sisters

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Liberal Democrat campaigners in Seven Sisters Ward in Haringey on Tuesday 13th January, to support David Schmitz’s by-election campaign to become the new councillor for Seven Sisters on 15th January.

“It was really great to knock on doors and meet so many people and hear the issues they are concerned about” said Caroline. “It is quite clear local residents want a hard working, strong voice for their area and are concerned about the cost of council tax and the recent hike in fares on trains and buses. David will work hard for Seven Sisters all year round and be a superb local councillor” added Caroline.

15 January 2009 - 9:31pm

Caroline campaigns for Grace Goodlad in East Wickham

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined Liberal Democrat campaigners in East Wickham Ward in Bexley on Sunday 11th January, to support Grace Goodlad’s by-election campaign to become the new councillor for the area on 22nd January.

“Lots of really important issues came up on the doorstep from protecting local open spaces to tackling crime” said Caroline. “Many residents are concerned about the cost of council tax and the recent hike in fares on trains and buses. I hope local residents will back Grace Goodlad for a strong voice for East Wickham”.

11 January 2009 - 10:53pm

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