Campaigning articles

Will Londoners ever be asked about the new Routemaster?

Commenting on the news that a total of 225 entries were received by the Mayor’s office in the competition to provide designs for a new Routemaster-style bus for London, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: "It’s good the Mayor received so many entries but it’d be interesting to know how many are realistic, viable designs.

"But what worries me is when will the actual users of the buses, and indeed all of London’s road-users, ever get to have their say on the ideas?"

21 October 2008 - 10:15pm

Boris: “amazing ignorance on transport” – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says the Mayor, also the chair of Transport for London, is clearly not fully clued up on the capital’s transport issues.

Caroline says: “Mayor Johnson floundered when asked key questions of fact on whether London transport will be ready for the 2012 Olympics.

“He was clueless about TfL’s £40 million cutback on the North London Line at Camden Road station which will mean only six trains an hour to Stratford instead of eight.

16 October 2008 - 11:37pm

"Time to act on level crossing congestion" - Caroline Pidgeon AM

London Liberal Democrats are demanding urgent action to ease traffic congestion at key level crossing bottlenecks in Richmond.

Following a “summit” meeting with Network Rail, South West Trains and London Overground at Richmond’s Civic Centre, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: “Richmond residents and traders have had to put up with endless delays and traffic queues for far too long. We need new solutions which’ll balance the needs of the rail commuters, who need a frequent service and longer trains, with the need to keep traffic moving.”

16 October 2008 - 10:41am

‘Failures with the Tube’s radio system must not become the norm’ – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Commenting on the news that Connect, London Underground’s £2 billion digital radio system, has had over 100 faults reported in the last two months causing at least three major closures, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says:
“Whilst teething problems may be expected on new systems like this TfL and Mayor Johnson must do all they can to ensure public safety.

“The new radio system is a brilliant idea – linking up every train, station and staff member – but if it’s failing like this then the whole point of it is lost.

12 October 2008 - 6:26pm

‘Government must step in to safeguard TfL’s money in failed Icelandic bank’ – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Commenting on the announcement that Transport for London had around £40 million invested in the failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat’s transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: "It’s up to the government to step in to ensure London’s travelling public doesn’t have to pick up the bill.

"We already face an inflation busting increase in fares from the Tory Mayor on January 1st. Now the Government needs to help ensure we don’t have to pick up another bill."

12 October 2008 - 6:24pm

NO to the the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge Zone

The Liberal Democrat group at the London Assembly has demanded Mayor Boris Johnson scraps the western extension of the Congestion Charge zone.

In his consultation exercise the Mayor suggested three options for the future of the western extension in Kensington and Chelsea and the GLA Liberal Democrats have now responded.

12 October 2008 - 6:23pm

Why don't Piccadilly Line trains stop throughout the day at Turnham Green?

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, today presented the Mayor with a petition calling for Piccadilly Line tube trains to stop at Turnham Green station throughout the day, and not just at peak times.

Caroline says: “It’s totally unfair people living near Turnham Green can’t use the Piccadilly Line during the day. London is a modern, 21st century city and Londoners need a modern, 21st century underground service.”

9 October 2008 - 12:42pm

Caroline visits Hackney Lib Dems

Caroline was one of the speakers at a packed Hackney Liberal Democrat end of summer party on Sunday 7th September. The afternoon discussions centred around Life in London after Ken.

“It was really great to see so many members and supporters in Hackney, and to discuss important issues for Londoners such as housing, the benefit of the Olympics and transport” commented Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem London Transport Spokesperson.

28 September 2008 - 12:00am

5 year anniversary of Brent East By-Election

On Thursday 18th September Caroline attended the 5 year anniversary dinner of the sensational by-election victory that saw Sarah Teather MP elected to parliament.

“Sarah Teather is an incredibly hard working MP, a real champion for local people in Brent. I was delighted to help celebrate her election with members and supporters in Brent. I look forward to continue to work with Sarah and Liberal Democrat colleagues in Brent, to improve transport and other services for local people” said Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Transport Spokesperson.

27 September 2008 - 11:59pm

‘The spectre of a CPO no longer hangs over Potters Field’ – Caroline Pidgeon AM

The threat of a compulsory purchase order of an iconic piece of land, described by Mayor Johnson as “the most important Thames-side site left in London” has been lifted.

Potters Field, which lies between Tooley Street and the park next to City Hall, is owned by Southwark council and has been the subject of heated debate for a number of years.

At last week’s Mayor’s Question Time Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat Assembly member, asked Mayor Johnson to lift the threat of CPO made by Ken Livingstone in 2007.

18 September 2008 - 10:30pm

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