Caroline Pidgeon

For many years, Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes and Lib Dem Councillors have been campaigning for improvements in the Kennington area, particularly around the tube station.

This area can all too often seem forgotten as it sits on the boundary between Lambeth and Southwark, with Transport for London in charge of Kennington Park Road.

For many people this area is the gateway to Southwark, and yet the environment around the tube station is not welcoming enough.

Your Lib Dem Team have launched a five point action plan calling for:

1. Improvements to the pavements;
2. More secure cycle parking
3. Better street lights
4. Improvements to the road surface for all road users particularly cyclists; and
5. Kennington Tube Station to be re-zoned from Zone 2 to a boundary 1/2 station.

Replying 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.

Read the Mayor's full letter here.

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, and Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, felt the cold on Monday morning at South Bermondsey station. After being contacted by a local resident, Simon and Caroline visited the station to discuss the wet and windy conditions with commuters.

Simon commented “all those who use South Bermondsey station will know that it is extremely exposed. The current shelter is very small and inadequate. Recently, two of the roof panels have blown off. People waiting on the platforms face cold winds, particularly with the recent weather which we have been having. People are often forced to wait on the stairs as there is nowhere else to wait. This is completely unsatisfactory and dangerous.

Simon is raising the matter with Southern Railways who have recently been able to fund the repainting of the station in their colours, but have done nothing to improve comfort for their passengers.

The new nature trail in Kennington Park was unveiled on Saturday 31st October by the Mayor of Lambeth.

On the borders of Lambeth and Southwark, the Park has been transformed thanks to the hard work of the Friends of Kennington Park.

Cllr Caroline Pidgeon joined Simon Hughes MP, Lib Dem Vassall Campaigner Matthew Hanney, Cllr Daphne Marchant and Cllr Rob Banks at the celebratory opening.

“Many congratulations to the Friends of Kennington Park who have worked tirelessly and sought funding from every possible source to ensure the park gets the investment it needs such as the wonderful play area, fitness trail and now the new nature trail,” commented Caroline Pidgeon.