Scrutinising the Mayor articles

Assembly committee launches investigation into Tube upgrade performance

The London Assembly Transport Committee today launches an investigation into how the Tube is performing, looking line by line at what the upgrade programme has delivered, compared to what it promised.

The Tube is now busier than ever in its history, but the timetable for the upgrade programme - which is has a target of a 30 per cent increase in overall capacity by 2020 - has slipped, particularly on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.

9 May 2011 - 9:47pm

Londoners - make your vote count!

Caroline Pidgeon joined politicians from across parties and across the capital today to launch an advertising campaign calling on Londoners to make their votes count on May 5th – by saying Yes to AV.

Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan MP and Murad Qureshi AM joined Lib Dems Simon Hughes MP and Caroline Pidgeon AM and the Green Party’s Jenny Jones AM.

Simon Hughes MP, Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make our political system fairer by giving more power to voters and reducing safe seats in parliament. It could be generations before this opportunity presents itself again. Let's make sure we don't miss out.”

29 April 2011 - 8:01pm

Caroline backs campaign to save lives of cyclists

Across London's roads regrettably, about one cyclist dies every month, with a disproportionate amount of these fatalities being women struck by left-turning lorries. There are measures that be taken to prevent these deaths, especially through the use of the Triximirror. This is s simple device, mounted at a junction, that allows a lorry driver a clear view of their left hand side as they pass through intersections. Despite their low cost, there are just 30 Triximirrors in operation across London.

A campaign to ensure their roll-out across London has been started by campaigners in Camden. You can see full details of the campaign, which has the full support of Caroline, here at the Guardian website.

You can also support the campaign by signing the petition here.

27 April 2011 - 10:44pm

Mayor’s childish blame game over tube chaos must end

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and vice chair of the London Assembly Transport committee, commenting on the mayhem that has faced hundreds of thousands of tube passengers this week, and the part suspension of six of the 11 tube lines over the Easter break, said:

"The Mayor boasts that ‘I am Transport for London', yet has now entered into a childish blame game following the mayhem this week on the underground and the further problems expected over Easter.

21 April 2011 - 11:10pm

Assembly members unite to campaign for Fairer Votes

Caroline joined Assembly members from the Labour, Green and Conservative parties at City Hall to support a Yes vote in the referendum on the 5th May.

Labour’s Len Duvall AM, Andrew Boff AM a Conservative member, and Darren Johnson from the Greens, alongside Caroline for the Liberal Democrats are encouraging Londoners to vote yes for a better voting system to elect our MPs on 5th May. The system means voters get to show their preference for candidates and every MP will be elected with over 50% of votes.

20 April 2011 - 10:25pm

Caroline speaks to London businesses on transport

On Thursday 14th April Caroline was the guest speaker at the London Chamber of Commerce. Over a light breakfast, Caroline outline a number of challenges for business, focusing on the area of transport and the need to increase capacity through projects such as Crossrail, Thameslink and the tube upgrades.

“It was really good to meet a number of businesses in London and to hear their concerns. From road congestion, to problems on the tube and rail networks, to concerns around capacity throughout the 2012 Games, it was useful to find out the issues that really impact on London’s economy and what possible solutions there might be” commented Caroline.

20 April 2011 - 9:59pm

Mayor needs to answer key questions over cable car proposals

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s announcement of a lead contractor to construct London’s cable car, said:

“A cable car crossing the Thames is a great idea, but it is a great idea being let down by poor financial planning and a lack of openness.

“The Mayor must now come clean and state why as recently as July 2010 he was claiming the cable car would cost £25 million, but already its projected cost has doubled.

18 April 2011 - 9:32pm

“At long last” - Caroline welcomes new approach to Tube upgrades

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on a new approach being adopted by London Underground to upgrade work on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines where there will be no weekend closures simply for signalling installation and testing work, said:

”At long last Transport for London and the Mayor have woken up to the fact that a new approach to upgrading the tube is possible which avoids the utter misery of closing whole tube lines.

12 April 2011 - 6:49pm

Yes to Fairer Votes!

Caroline joined the national launch of the Yes to the Alternative Campaign held at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre in Lambeth. The campaign has the backing of people ranging from Eddie Izzard to Martin Bell and Kriss Akabusi.

The referendum to make the voting system fairer and ensure that all MPs must receive the backing of 50 per cent of their constituents is being held on Thursday 5th May.

For details of the campaign launch see the BBC website and London SE1 website.

To find out more about why the Alternative Vote campaign is so important and how you can get involved click here, visit the Yes To Fairer Votes site here.

2 April 2011 - 8:57pm

Mayor must keep his promise over Catford danger junction

The News Shopper reports on the Mayor's promise - following a question from Caroline Pidgeon - to ensure the dangerous junction between Bromley Road, Whitefoot Lane and Southend Lane in Catford gets pedestrian crossings.

Caroline commented:

There have been far too many false promises about improvements to this junction made by the present and previous Mayors of London.

It is vital that promises are now met and that this junction is finally made safe for pedestrians

2 April 2011 - 7:23pm

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