Caroline's news

The London Assembly has called on the Mayor to persuade the Government to meet its original commitment to contribute funds to London boroughs to help them meet the costs of extending off-peak free bus travel to people who do not live in London.

A motion agreed today deplored the government's decision to halve this contribution, and urged the Mayor to put pressure on the government to abandon their U-turn and honour the agreement they originally made.

Caroline Pidgeon has joined Streatham Liberal Democrats in calling for First Capital Connect (FCC) to improve its service for users of Thameslink from Streatham and Tulse Hill stations or lose its franchise. Their call comes in the light of continued cancellation of trains, delays and timetable restrictions which have been going on for months but have worsened since Christmas.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham Chris Nicholson said,
"The service being provided is completely unacceptable. It is particularly difficult for commuters have to wait ages for trains or buses in this freezing weather. Caroline Pidgeon and I are seeking an urgent meeting with First Capital Connect. Unless we get satisfactory answers to what is being done to restore a full service I will be asking the Department for Transport to consider stripping FCC of its franchise."

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat Chair of the Greater London Assembly Transport Committee added,
"I am getting reports all along the Thameslink line of the hardship that this is causing commuters. First Capital Connect must improve, and improve quickly!"

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has criticised Transport for London over the £20m it has wasted in starting and then abandoning work at six tube stations.

Caroline said:
"Transport for London have shown incredible incompetence in starting work on step free access at six underground stations and then cancelling the work before its completion."

You can read the full story, as covered by the BBC and the Evening Standard.

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.

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."