Richmond + London-wide stories
Caroline backs court challenge over Heathrow third runway
24 February 2010 - 9:38pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon has backed a High Court action launched by local authorities, green groups and residents' groups, challenging the government's decision to approve a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow Airport.
The coalition’s lawyers will be claiming in court that the consultation process was fundamentally flawed, that the decision to expand Heathrow is at odds with the UK’s overall climate change targets, and that the number of measures introduced to pass the plans through Parliament mean the expansion is fundamentally different to the proposals on which the Government consulted the public in 2007. The Transport Department’s lawyers are now claiming the new measures were not part of the decision to expand Heathrow.
If the coalition wins, the decision to proceed with the runway may be overturned.
Waterloo International platforms – a wasted resource
8 February 2010 - 8:20pm — Administrator
As part of the London Liberal Democrats' Campaign For Better Stations, Caroline Pidgeon joined south-west London MPs Ed Davey, Tom Brake and Susan Kramer on a visit to Waterloo station.
The Waterloo International platforms, which Eurostar trains used until their move to St Pancras in 2007, are still completely unused - in such a congested station as Waterloo, this is a wasted resource which should be put to use to improve services for commuters from south-west London.
Across London, the Lib Dems have a 5-point plan for better rail stations:
TfL paints double red lines on road by mistake
28 June 2009 - 8:49pm — AdministratorThe Hounslow Chronicle covers the story of the double red lines painted by mistake on Lower Mortlake Road in Richmond, and the efforts of Susan Kramer MP and Caroline Pidgeon AM in having them removed.
Caroline tabled a question on the issue to Boris Johnson, who admitted: "An error was made, resulting in TfL’s contractors installing double red lines in advance of a decision being made on the necessary traffic orders. ... Any red lines introduced prematurely and without a valid traffic order will not be enforced."
Lib Dems take the lead in supporting car clubs
10 March 2009 - 9:58pm — AdministratorLiberal Democrat councils have the best record of any political party in supporting the growth in car clubs across London.
This week Transport for London granted £1 million of funding to support the growth of car clubs across London over the next years. Less than two thirds of London boroughs actually applied for funding (19 out of 33 boroughs), yet all seven Liberal Democrat councils in London rose to the challenge and successfully secured funding for their boroughs.
Footbridge returns to North Sheen station
10 November 2008 - 10:25pm — Administrator
Commenting on the news that North Sheen rail station is to have its pedestrian footbridge restored by Network Rail so that it serves both sides of the Manor Road crossing, Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, said:
"I am delighted to have been able to work with Susan Kramer and the local Lib Dem Councillors to get top rail people together in Richmond for a summit to thrash out the issues. This is great news for local people and will stop people risking their lives just to get a train.
"Time to act on level crossing congestion" - Caroline Pidgeon AM
16 October 2008 - 9:41am — AdministratorLondon Liberal Democrats are demanding urgent action to ease traffic congestion at key level crossing bottlenecks in Richmond.
Following a “summit” meeting with Network Rail, South West Trains and London Overground at Richmond’s Civic Centre, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: “Richmond residents and traders have had to put up with endless delays and traffic queues for far too long. We need new solutions which’ll balance the needs of the rail commuters, who need a frequent service and longer trains, with the need to keep traffic moving.”
Has Boris backed down on a promise?
18 September 2008 - 9:23pm — AdministratorCommenting on Mayor Johnson’s pledge to intervene on the issue of the possible closure of South West Trains’ ticket offices, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Group at the London Assembly, says: “I’m extremely disappointed to see Mayor Johnson hasn’t personally got involved in this matter when he quite clearly said he would.
“Getting his minions at TfL to do his work simply doesn’t have the same impact as if the Mayor of London gets involved. I want to see the Mayor sticking to his promises.”
Richmond Rail Summit
27 July 2008 - 9:27pm — Administrator
Top Officials from Network Rail joined Susan Kramer MP, Vince Cable MP, Cllr David Trigg and Caroline Pidgeon AM for a rail summit in Richmond, looking at the rail issues local people face.
Oyster passengers overcharged £500,000 a month
1 March 2010 - 9:27pm — AdministratorIn an article for the Lib Dem Voice website, Caroline Pidgeon describes how anomalies in the Oyster card system result in Londoners being overcharged by £500,000 a month when they travel on National Rail services:
This week at City Hall I was accused by Boris Johnson of being a “negative Liberal Democrat” when I dared to question him over some of the problems that have happened as a result of the extension of Oyster Pay as You Go to national rail services across London.
Well I stand by my questioning of the Mayor as there is no doubt that a huge number of Londoners are not getting the best deal that Oyster could deliver. There are serious anomalies in how the system operates, and the full benefits of the technology are simply not being delivered. Most significantly many people using Oyster on the trains, whether they are Londoners or visitors, are being overcharged, sometimes by quite large amounts. This January alone it is estimated that 32,000 passengers were overcharged a total of half a million pounds.
Rail companies must improve their response to snow
19 February 2010 - 9:06pm — AdministratorFollowing the chaos on London's railways during this winter's snow, the London Assembly Transport Committee has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, asking for a national review of the rail industry's performance in bad weather to cover:
- Rail operators’ and Network Rail’s contingency plans
- Modification of trains and tracks so they can cope in icy conditions, for example using 'third rail' technology
- Better information and compensation arrangements for passengers, with a consistent and transparent industry-wide standard
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.
