Westminster + London-wide stories
Crossrail is vital but needs to learn lessons
24 February 2010 - 9:15pm — AdministratorThe London Assembly Transport Committee has launched a new report, questioning the sums Londoners are paying for the Crossrail project, and criticising the way compulsory purchases of businesses and homes have been handled.
In the report, 'Light at the end of the tunnel', the Committee recognises the value of the £16bn rail link project, which will bring an extra 10% capacity on London’s overcrowded rail and Tube network, thousands of new jobs and a massive boost to the national economy.
However, it questions the fairness of Londoners contributing the majority of the funding, when 8 of the 37 stations are outside Greater London, and the project is expected to generate £22bn for central government over the next ten years. It also points out Crossrail's poor handling of displaced businesses and residents whose premises are compulsory purchased to make way for construction work, especially in Soho.
Video: monitoring the Crossrail project
12 February 2010 - 9:43pm — AdministratorFrom the site of the station redevelopment at Tottenham Court Road, Caroline Pidgeon explains how the London Assembly Transport Committee will be monitoring the Crossrail project to ensure it is on time, on budget and delivers the extra transport capacity that London urgently needs.
Time to get moving on Oxford Street congestion
4 February 2010 - 9:54pm — AdministratorPedestrians on Oxford street are reduced to shuffling along overcrowded pavements, while hundreds of buses an hour inch forward at an average of 4mph, according to a new report from the London Assembly Transport Committee.
The report, ‘Streets ahead: Relieving congestion on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street’, notes that despite its phenomenal popularity with shoppers, the area continues to be divided by a "slow-moving procession of buses and taxis". On average the area suffers an accident involving a bus every 3.4 days - and air quality in the area, already the worst in London, is on track to be the worst in the UK by 2015
At the heart of the problem is the conflict between the need to provide a pleasant shopping and leisure environment, and meeting the demand for transport links through the West End. And various schemes to reduce traffic congestion and improve the pedestrian experience in one of the world’s premier shopping destinations may not be enough, says the report, calling for more radical thinking.
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.
Keeping track of Crossrail
22 December 2009 - 10:49am — Administrator
Caroline went on a site visit on Friday 18th December to look at works at Tottenham Court Road for Crossrail and the upgrade of the London Underground Station.
Tackling congestion on Oxford Street
22 September 2009 - 9:40pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon joined other Assembly members from the Transport Committee for a tour around the congested shopping streets of Central London as part of a new investigation into Oxford Street congestion.
The investigation will be looking at the best ways to sort out the chronic traffic congestion that plagues the retail heart of London on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street. The Transport Committee is examining current initiatives aimed at reducing congestion and establish what further action could be taken.
Northern Line could close from 10pm on weekdays
2 September 2009 - 9:44pm — AdministratorThe Evening Standard reports on plans for sections of the Northern Line to close at 10pm on weeknights, as signalling systems are replaced over the next two years.
In the article, Caroline gives her views:
Caroline Pidgeon, Lib-Dem transport spokeswoman on the London Assembly, encouraged TfL and Tube Lines to “think outside the box” and suggested that full-line closures, lasting several weeks at a time, may be more efficient than repeated weekend shut-downs.
Both the Tube and Crossrail are essential for London
18 May 2009 - 8:31pm — 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.)
London Liberal Youth mount campaign to save the Cross River Tram
1 December 2008 - 9:38pm — Administrator
Caroline was delighted to join members of the London Liberal Youth at LSE on Thursday 27th November to discuss the Cross River Tram and their campaign to try to persuade the Mayor of London to change his mind and keep the plans alive.
The team of students have produced leaflets and posters and are planning a number of events and different levels of lobbying to keep the pressure on the Mayor to save the tram.
“I was very impressed to meet such an enthusiastic and energetic student group, who strongly felt the tram would benefit the student community in London as well as the wider community, in many deprived areas.
Mayor must seek private funding
10 November 2008 - 10:16pm — AdministratorCaroline 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.
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.
