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Greenwich + London-wide stories

Climate Camp in Blackheath

11 September 2009 - 10:12pm — Administrator

Lib Dem Assembly Member and member of the police and fire authorities for London, Caroline Pidgeon, joined Lib Dem MP Tom Brake in a visit to the Climate Camp in Blackheath in August.

“I wanted to see for myself and talk to ‘climate campers’ about how the police were policing the camp and any other safety issues and concerns.

“I was delighted to chat with local Fire Chiefs and hear about safety measures they had helped with to ensure the camp was fire safe and to hear about the low key police presence in the wider area” added Caroline.

Caroline Pidgeon supports councillors fighting for Blackheath train services

4 September 2009 - 8:44pm — Administrator

London Assembly Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon AM led a delegation of Greenwich Liberal Democrat councillors to lobby South East Trains Public Affairs Manager Mike Gibson about plans to cut commuter train services at Blackheath Station.

Caroline Pidgeon, who is Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee commented: “It does seem extraordinary that with more and more passengers using rail to get to work, a train operator is withdrawing commuter trains.”

Lib Dems back bikers faced with foot tunnel closure

2 September 2009 - 10:31pm — Administrator

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has called on Greenwich Council Leader Chris Roberts to provide an alternative river crossing for hundreds of cyclists when the Greenwich Foot Tunnel closes for up to 18 months for renovation. Cyclists and pedestrians are also threatened with the closure of the 'sister' Woolwich Foot Tunnel at the same time.

Cllr Pidgeon met a group of cyclists at the Cutty Sark outside the south entrance to the Foot Tunnel with Liberal Democrat group leader on Greenwich Council Brian Woodcraft, Cllr Paul Webbewood, and Lib Dem councillors from Lewisham.

After using the lift and inspecting the Tunnel, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"Chris Roberts and Boris Johnson cannot just leave hundreds of cyclists who depend on the Foot Tunnel to get to work every day without an alternative. They face either biking many extra miles to cross Tower Bridge or to use the Woolwich Ferry. The Blackwall and Rotherhithe Tunnels are too dangerous for cyclists and DLR rules do not permit bikes. The Council and the Mayor must find a workable alternative."

City Hall calls in Madrid metro boss to help sort Jubilee Line

1 September 2009 - 9:38pm — Administrator

In the East London Advertiser, Caroline discusses her Transport Committee's plans to investigate the disruption called by works on the Jubilee Line - including calling in the managing director of the Madrid Metro, to find out how lessons can be learned from Spain.

The full article is here.

Both the Tube and Crossrail are essential for London

18 May 2009 - 9:31pm — Administrator

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.

When it is completed in 2017, Crossrail will go from Maidenhead in the West through to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the East, taking in Heathrow, Paddington, Farringdon and Stratford in between. (You can see a map of the route here.)

Boris Johnson apologises over poor service for Horn Park estate residents

20 April 2009 - 9:19pm — Administrator

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."

Caroline criticises cancellation of Greenwich Waterfront Transit project

6 April 2009 - 8:45pm — Administrator

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on Boris Johnson’s recent decision to cancel the Greenwich Waterfront Transit project, said:

"Residents in Greenwich, Woolwich and Thamesmead badly need rapid and comfortable public transport to get from home to railheads like Woolwich and North Greenwich. The Transit scheme has been cut back from tram to guided bus to a pretty ordinary bus and now axed altogether. Labour and Tory Mayors have treated Greenwich with contempt."

An unfair bill for South Londoners

9 January 2009 - 11:06pm — Administrator

Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon has persuaded Boris Johnson to support the campaign to ensure that the massive costs of the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes are shared more fairly. At present the bill of over £4 million is falling on the council taxpayers of the London Boroughs of Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

Questioned by Caroline Pidgeon the Mayor accepted that the costs of the inquest were exceptional and that it was unfair that the costs of the inquest are being paid by just four London Boroughs.

Mayor must seek private funding

10 November 2008 - 11:16pm — Administrator

Caroline Pidgeon AM, London Assembly Liberal Democrat lead on transport, commenting on Transport for London's Ten Year Business Plan, published today, said:

“It is staggering that schemes such as the Cross River Tram, the Croydon Tramlink Extension, East London Transit, Greenwich Waterfront Transit and plans for an Oxford street tram appear to have been scrapped with nothing in their place apart from, perhaps, a few more polluting diesel buses.

Passengers and London’s economy pay a heavy price for unnecessary strike

6 September 2010 - 8:35pm — Administrator

Speaking ahead of the industrial action starting later this evening on the London Underground network, Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and Deputy Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:

“This is a strike that should not be taking place. Both London Underground and the unions are guilty of failing to put passengers first.”

“For too London Underground have tried to claim that most ticket offices provide no useful purpose and that many stations sell fewer than 10 tickets an hour. In reality this only applies to eight stations. The savage reduction of office opening hours at 90% of ticket offices on the Tube network will inconvenience many passengers, especially disabled people and visitors to London. Some vulnerable people might even be deterred from using the tube.

“However the TSSA and RMT unions are failing to make their case to Tube passengers. Strike action will not help keep ticket office hours open. By striking they are just throwing away a great deal of goodwill from the traveling public.”