Caroline Pidgeon

Commenting on the news that Connect, London Underground’s £2 billion digital radio system, has had over 100 faults reported in the last two months causing at least three major closures, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat’s transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says:
“Whilst teething problems may be expected on new systems like this TfL and Mayor Johnson must do all they can to ensure public safety.

Commenting on the announcement that Transport for London had around £40 million invested in the failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat’s transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: "It’s up to the government to step in to ensure London’s travelling public doesn’t have to pick up the bill.

"We already face an inflation busting increase in fares from the Tory Mayor on January 1st. Now the Government needs to help ensure we don’t have to pick up another bill."

The Liberal Democrat group at the London Assembly has demanded Mayor Boris Johnson scraps the western extension of the Congestion Charge zone.

In his consultation exercise the Mayor suggested three options for the future of the western extension in Kensington and Chelsea and the GLA Liberal Democrats have now responded.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, today presented the Mayor with a petition calling for Piccadilly Line tube trains to stop at Turnham Green station throughout the day, and not just at peak times.

Caroline says: “It’s totally unfair people living near Turnham Green can’t use the Piccadilly Line during the day. London is a modern, 21st century city and Londoners need a modern, 21st century underground service.”

Caroline was one of the speakers at a packed Hackney Liberal Democrat end of summer party on Sunday 7th September. The afternoon discussions centred around Life in London after Ken.

“It was really great to see so many members and supporters in Hackney, and to discuss important issues for Londoners such as housing, the benefit of the Olympics and transport” commented Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem London Transport Spokesperson.

On Thursday 18th September Caroline attended the 5 year anniversary dinner of the sensational by-election victory that saw Sarah Teather MP elected to parliament.

“Sarah Teather is an incredibly hard working MP, a real champion for local people in Brent. I was delighted to help celebrate her election with members and supporters in Brent. I look forward to continue to work with Sarah and Liberal Democrat colleagues in Brent, to improve transport and other services for local people” said Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Transport Spokesperson.

On Tuesday 23rd September Caroline went to visit the new trains planned for the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines at an exhibition at Euston Gardens. The new trains are in production and will be undergoing testing next year. The timetable for their introduction is as follows:

2010 Start to arrive on Metropolitan Line
2011 Start to arrive on Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines
2013 Start to arrive on District Line

The threat of a compulsory purchase order of an iconic piece of land, described by Mayor Johnson as “the most important Thames-side site left in London” has been lifted.

Potters Field, which lies between Tooley Street and the park next to City Hall, is owned by Southwark council and has been the subject of heated debate for a number of years.

At last week’s Mayor’s Question Time Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat Assembly member, asked Mayor Johnson to lift the threat of CPO made by Ken Livingstone in 2007.

Commenting on the Cross River Tram plans at the Liberal Democrats' autumn conference in Bournemouth, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat's transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says:
"As to what Boris is going to do, that is a very good question. Boris has said he is interested in the Cross River Tram and we have that on record.

"Messages coming out of his office have been very mixed but we need to keep it in his transport strategy and we're lobbying very, very hard on that."

Commenting 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.”