At today’s meeting of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Mike Brown, TfL's managing director for trains and the Tube, said that driverless trains will not run on London’s Tube network until 2020 at the earliest.
After the publication of Boris Johnson's diary revealed the depths of his links with News International, Caroline Pidgeon told the Observer:
It is time for Johnson to give evidence to the Leveson inquiry investigating the role of the press, police and politicians in the phone-hacking scandal.
Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s response to the Government’s Draft Aviation Policy Framework, said:
“Boris Johnson is certainly right to so strongly oppose a third Heathrow runway. Its impact would be devastating for so many Londoners.
Caroline Pidgeon and her colleague Stephen Knight recently caught up with their colleagues from the National Assembly for Wales. The day-long visit to Cardiff involved finding out how the National Assembly for Wales operates, as well as sharing of best practice between London and Cardiff.
Left to right in photo: Stephen Knight (London Assembly Member), Eluned Parrott (Welsh Assembly Member), Peter Black (Welsh Assembly Member), Kirsty Williams (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Welsh Assembly Group), Caroline Pidgeon (Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group), William Powell (Welsh Assembly Member)
The London Assembly today threw its weight behind government proposals to allow same-sex couples to have civil marriage ceremonies.
Building on the Assembly's long-standing record of support for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, members approved a motion calling for the introduction of legislation in parliament to make same-sex marriages a reality.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, who proposed the motion, said:
Writing in 31st August's Liberal Democrat News, Caroline says:
The 15th Paralympics is now underway.
4,280 athletes, from 166 countries, participating in 20 different sports. Just as with the London Olympics these athletes will dazzle and often inspire us as they demonstrate excellence in so many different sports.
However, it is worth remembering how the Paralympics is in so many respects a new development. The first Paralympics to be held in the same city as the Olympics were held in Seoul in 1988. The very first Paralympics were held as recently as 1960, (although their genesis was of course the International Stoke Mandeville Games held eight years earlier).
In so many respects the development of the Paralympics marks the rapid change in attitudes towards disabled people. Within the lifetime of anyone barely over the state retirement age so much has changed. Just sixty and seventy years ago our society routinely excluded most disabled people.
Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s proposals for London’s Olympic cycling legacy, said:
“A two day world class festival of cycling next year is clearly welcome and will be a great addition to Skyride.
“However the Mayor has merely re-announced existing plans. Incredibly the proposed event will now also be smaller than what was first proposed back in January.
“Today’s rehashed proposals expose the Mayor’s lack of vision. A real cycling legacy for the capital must include far more than just a two day festival.
Responding to the announcement that the High Court had rejected Addison Lee’s call for minicabs to use bus lanes Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group said:
"This is a very welcome decision. Taxis have access to bus lanes due to their special status allowing people to hail them down in any location.
The London Assembly today made clear its continuing unanimous opposition to the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Following recent reports that the prospect of an expanded Heathrow could be revived, Assembly Members backed a motion urging Mayor of London Boris Johnson to join the Assembly in lobbying London MPs to oppose a third runway and to work with government to find alternative solutions to airport capacity issues in London and the South East.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“In 2010 the Government was right to axe plans for a third Heathrow Runway and the same arguments against expansion still hold good today.
Transport for London have backed down with their plans to remove vital pedestrian safety railings along the south circular following the petition of local residents by Cllr Lewis Robinson presented to City Hall last week.
TfL had posted notices to remove pedestrian safety railings outside the entrance to Belair Park, West Dulwich train station, and the traffic junctions outside Dulwich College last month.
Caroline Pidgeon, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee added her support to the campaign and asked Boris Johnson, London Mayor to confirm that the railings outside Belair Park will be kept to protect local school children. In his written answer, the Mayor has confirmed that the railings by the entrance to Belair Park will now not be removed. Any other proposals in the local area will be subject to full consultation with local stakeholders.