Lewisham + London-wide stories
Looking forward to the new East London Line
4 February 2010 - 8:39pm — Administrator
On Thursday 28th January Caroline went on a visit to look at the new East London Line Extension works and to view the extension of the Docklands Light Railway.
Caroline visited New Cross Gate Depot and saw the new trains for the line, as well as looking at the new station and works at Shoreditch.
The DLR visit included a trip out to Stratford and down to Woolwich via City Airport.
“The extension of the DLR and the works on the new East London Line were very impressive and it is great to see so much investment going into public transport. I can’t wait for the East London Line to reopen” said Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon.
Mayor refuses to commit to replacement Bellingham service for South London Line passengers
31 January 2010 - 7:52pm — AdministratorReplying to a question from Caroline Pidgeon AM, Lib Dem chair of the London Assembly's Transport Committee, Boris Johnson has refused to commit funds to fund a rail service from Victoria to Bellingham, which would ease the impact on South London Line passengers when their line is closed in 2012.
With the currenct economic situation, there is no way that funding could be allocated to the Victoria–Bellingham service without cutting back on services or projects elsewhere.
Campaigning to make Hither Green station fully accessible
5 January 2010 - 8:51pm — Administrator
Lewisham Liberal Democrats brought Caroline Pidgeon AM, the London Assembly Transport Committee Chair, to Hither Green station to see the problems passengers face in accessing the station.
Local campaigners are calling for the closed-up ramps at Hither Green Station to be re-opened to ease access to and from the station. Currently only one ramp is open to passengers using the station. Re-opening the ramps would allow direct access to the platforms, and avoid the current need to use bridges to get to and from the station.
Caroline Pidgeon said:
"Re-opening the closed ramps would massively improve access to this station for those with mobility problems, pushchairs or luggage. I have just launched a five point plan to improve train stations across the capital, and better accessibility is one of my priorities."
Caroline joins campaigners for urgent action at Tiger's Head junction
13 December 2009 - 6:30pm — Administrator
Local residents and campaigners are demanding action to improve safety at the Tiger’s Head junction where Bromley Road meets Whitefoot Lane and Southend Lane.
Today they submitted a petition of over 200 signatures to London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, who is chair of the Transport Committee at City Hall. The petition calls for the Mayor of London, who is responsible for the junction, to take urgent measures to improve safety at the intersection.
Campaigning to save the South London Line
16 November 2009 - 8:10pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon joined local residents and other Assembly members to lobby Boris Johnson. Mayor of London about the future of the South London Line. They then went to meet Sadiq Khan MP, Minister for Transport.
On the same day, Lib Dem Simon Hughes MP secured a debate on this important subject with Government. (You can read the debate in Parliament here.)
“Both the mayor and Government have got to stop trying to pass the buck on the future of this important railway line. We must ensure London Bridge is rebuilt to allow the South London Line to continue to run between London Bridge and Victoria after the Thameslink works are complete, and an interim services Victoria to Bellingham in the meantime” added Caroline Pidgeon AM.
Caroline joins cross-party campaign against Lewisham rail cuts
22 October 2009 - 7:32pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon joined a cross party group to speak out against planned cuts to Lewisham's local rail services, and to take their campaign to Government ministers.
The South London Press reported on the campaign here.
The group have also written a letter to the South London Press, setting out their stance:
Dear Sir,
We are deeply concerned by the proposed deep cuts to already overcrowded train services run by Southern Railways via Sydenham, Forest Hill, Honor Oak Park, Brockley and New Cross Gate. Passengers are rightly outraged by these cuts and concerned that an already overcrowded and unpleasant commute will turn into a daily nightmare.
Government cuts threaten Freedom Pass
13 October 2009 - 7:20pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon joined Tom Brake MP and Lewisham Lib Dem councillor Chris Maines to highlight the threat that the Government's cuts pose to the future of London's Freedom Pass.
This cut would be a hit of £1.8 million on the council tax payers of Lewisham, according to Liberal Democrat Cllr Chris Maines.
“The Government are moving resources away from London and they are planning a cut that would effectively mean that cross borough travel on buses in London would not be funded.
“This would be a double whammy for Lewisham residents who were promised by Tory Mayor Boris Johnston that he would allow the freedom pass to used before 9.30am on local trains. A promise not yet kept.
Transport campaigns in Forest Hill
11 September 2009 - 9:35pm — Administrator
On Friday 4th September Caroline visited Forest Hill with local Lib Dem Councillors John Russell and Alex Feakes to look at a number of transport issues.
Talking to local residents and members of the Forest Hill Society, Caroline heard about several key transport issues, several of which Caroline has tabled questions to the Mayor about:
1. The proposed reduction in train services from Forest Hill at peak times and in evenings and weekends to Charing Cross;
2. The dangerous junction of Forest Hill Road and Sydenham Rise;
3. The virtually invisible bus stops on Sydenham Rise due to overgrown trees, bushes and no dedicated bus space to pull in by the kerb; and
4. Issues of visitor traffic around the Horniman Museum, congesting local streets.
Graffiti problems at St John's station
11 September 2009 - 8:55pm — Administrator
Caroline visited St John’s station in Lewisham to witness the huge amount of graffiti that appears all over the station and on surrounding walls.
“There needs to be a simple way to report such graffiti and other environmental nuisance at stations and other transport areas as there are so many train companies and public bodies involved it is difficult to work out who is responsible. I have called on the Mayor of London to look at introducing such a website or web pages” commented Caroline. (See Caroline's question to Boris Johnson here.)
Fury at plan to close station exit
11 September 2009 - 7:22pm — Administrator
Southeastern Trains' plan to close the Tesco side exit from platform 4 at Lewisham Station has been met with fury by local residents. The rail operator intends to divert passengers down a new staircase or lift and under the railway to the entrance of Lewisham DLR Station. It is a detour which will add at least four minutes to journey times.
Caroline visited the exit at rush hour with local councillors and Lewisham Deptford Lib Dem Campaigner Tam Langley, to see the number of people using the exit.
“Southeastern trains need to reconsider this decision and ensure that all entrances to the station can be used” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.
Published and promoted by Matthew Hanney on behalf of Caroline Pidgeon, both at Unit 6 Hermes House, 59 Josephine Avenue, London SW2. Printed (dispatched) by Tsohost Ltd, 3 The Meadows, Worlington, Suffolk IP28 8SH.
