Caroline's news

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.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson,
commenting on today’s announcement that passengers will be able to use their Oyster cards on almost all London’s rail network by the end of the summer said:

"Londoners have had to wait far too long to use "pay-as-you-go" Oyster cards at National Rail stations.

Boris Johnson has this week stated that vital improvements to a junction in south Catford might now go ahead after years of delays.

Responding to a question from Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, the Mayor stated that Transport for London will start a consultation process for improvements at the junction of Bromley Road and Whitefoot Lane in Spring 2009. At present the junction only has pedestrian lights at two of the four sides of the junction, leaving many pedestrians in a very vulnerable position.

Whitefoot councillor Dan Houghton said:
"For many years TfL have been aware how dangerous this junction is, especially for children. Due to their dithering their own research and modelling for the junction became out of date and they were forced to repeat their investigations, causing further delays. Both pedestrians and the taxpayer have paid a high price for Transport for London's dithering over this junction."

Brent’s Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign with Caroline Pidgeon AM to ease overcrowding on the 245 Bus route, in an attempt to make life easier for those travelling at peak times.

The popular route is particularly congested in the morning rush hour between 7 and 9am, and again in the evenings after around 4pm, according to Lib Dem Councillor Daniel Brown, the Council’s Lead Member for Highways and Transportation.

Lib Dems Caroline Pidgeon AM and Norman Baker MP visited King’s Cross station just before Christmas to hear about Network Rail’s plans for the redevelopment of the station. The Lib Dem team learnt about planned improvements to both the overground and underground stations for passengers. Caroline raised the issue of access via York Way, which has been an issue both Norman and Caroline have taken up for local residents.