Andrew Dismore

The start of January has seen the Mayor meet his pledge to freeze TfL fares, though increase have gone ahead for suburban rail lines, over which the Mayor has no decision making powers, this being for the Government  to decide. I think these increases are wrong, especially given the poor service commuters suffer.

What makes things worse was the Government’s decision in December to renege on their promise to devolve the suburban rail lines to TfL including Thameslink and Great Northern.

See also my letter for publication to the local papers.

And even worse than that was the revelation that the Transport Secretary had previously written to the former mayor, saying he would not support such devolution, so as to keep the lines out of the hands of a Labour Mayor, ignoring the interests of hard pressed commuters. I challenged the Minister for London over this, at the December plenary.

As you may have seen, the House of Lords HS2 Select Committee has issued its final report.   It contains some significant victories for Camden, and is testament to a long and hard-fought campaign. In particular, the report recommends:

 

• some significant changes on compensation for specific areas of the borough and for urban areas more generally;
• that the split design processes for the HS2 and Mainline stations at Euston puts at risk the achievement of a world-class station, and calls on the Secretary of State for the funding for the second planning stage to be provided as soon as possible;
• the removal of unnecessary compulsory purchase powers from the Bill

 

I am tabling Questions for January’s Mayor’s Questions, to follow this up in detail.

 

We also saw the results of TfL’s Cycle Superhighway 11. I think the scheme still needs further work on it.

 

On a more positive note, I welcomed TfL’s announcement of investment in Holborn and Camden Town stations upgrades

 

The station upgrade at Tottenham Court Road is also progressing. TfL has  opened the final two entrances and improved pedestrian spaces. So far, the improved station has delivered three, new higher-capacity entrances and a completely refurbished and modernised fourth outside the Dominion Theatre. TfL aim to finish the remaining works and to deliver step-free access from street to train on the Northern line and from street to platform on the Central line, by early-2017.

 

The Upper Holloway Bridge replacement has meant that A1 Holloway Road remains closed for a little longer, to 16 January 2017

 

I have been very critical of TfL over the Archway Gyratory Scheme, where they ignored the outcome of the consultation which showed a very high level of opposition and problems for bus users.

 

I have also been critical of Barnet Council’s foot dragging over the Cricklewood Lane Bus Stop. See also my letter To Cllr Cornelius.

 

The Mayor has also issued new proposals for bus drivers. These include:

 

• A new ‘minimum professional London bus driver wage’ will be introduced to apply to all new TfL contracts awarded to bus companies from April
• Bus companies will be required to pay drivers at least £23,000 per annum reflecting the challenging nature of the bus driver role, which now includes a greater focus on customer service. TfL will apply this for all new contracts awarded from 1 April 2017 next year, and rising with inflation thereafter.
• A ‘Licence for London’ will be introduced no later than April, allowing drivers to move between companies, taking with them their qualifications and driving record, without having to go on a lower new starter rate. This will form an enhanced reference for their new employers and enable employers to bring drivers into relevant local pay structures reflecting their experience.
• The Mayor also expects TFL, Unite representatives, and the operators to continue working towards introducing a London-wide pay structure for minimum levels of pay based on three and plus five years’ experience. Because of the wide range of pay levels and arrangements across London this will take longer to implement.
• TfL will also work with Unite representatives and the bus companies to better support the progression of London’s bus drivers through to management and other industry positions, including addressing historic under-representation of minority groups. TfL will work with Unite representatives and the operators to develop an equality and diversity programme to build a working environment that fully represents the diversity of London bus workers at every level in every company.
• There will also be continued work to address a range of other issues such as inadequate provision of toilet facilities and regular late finishes to shifts.

 

Finally, a full list of my Mayor’s December MQT Transport Questions and answers.