• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

But it is an undertaking you could voluntarily enter into. I think the two questions Londoners would like to ask are, first of all, is not Bob Crowe's role in the RMT so close to the operation of London Underground that he will always face a conflict on the issues on which he has the greatest interest? It presents a similar difficulty to that experienced by Mr Norris, who you had to fire from the TfL Board. The second question I think Londoners would ask is: one of the difficult problems in politics is sometimes you have to tell your...

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

It is unfortunately not a thrill a minute for the people who use the triangle. Indeed, if there is any thrill, it is the danger for pedestrians who face very real difficulties in crossing on the crossings which are half burnt out with some chalked-out signs of `look left" or `look right". I do think it is a matter of importance for this Assembly, because this work is being done in our name because the money comes from SRB money from the London Development Agency. I do hope the Mayor can make some intervention. The Mayor has been very active...

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

I am grateful to hear that we are going to monitor the process but I will continue to urge you. I have given you the pictures, you can see just how dangerous it is for pedestrians, and, bearing in mind your very keen interest in giving strong priority to pedestrians, I do hope you can get involved in some intervention now to ensure the safety of pedestrians. We had a recent accident there, unfortunately a fatality, nearby, and the ambulance was delayed in the traffic. I do feel there is a need for intervention now.

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

I do not share your confidence in the robustness of the consultation that you refer to. Certainly, surveying the traders who are quoted in the 72%, a very large number of them - and I have all the survey results here - do not feel the consultation came to that view, and indeed, when a large number of traders expressed the view that the system was not working, they were advised by the local authority, "Well, you just don"t understand these issues and therefore your view is not of importance'. I have comment books here which have been signed by...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

I think we have a genuine problem here that traffic and transport and congestion issues have become more and more political issues over the last few years. Any mayor is going to get into difficulties on this but I think you compound the problem for yourself - and I would like you to address this point - by being unclear as to what the objectives of a particular scheme are. If you have a busy town centre, there are problems about pedestrians, traffic, deliveries, safety. When you are doing a particular scheme you need to be clear whether it is...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

I understand your reluctance not to criticise Croydon Council over this because your own record at TfL of consultation with local people over schemes you introduce is particularly poor. What steps are you taking to actually improve TfL's consultation regime to make sure that businesses and local people and drivers are consulted about the schemes which you introduce?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

I accept there is no alternative route, but this is something else.

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

The Liberal Democrats have been fairly staunch in their support with the caveats and with the portions, and I think one of the areas which we have always highlighted are the problems on the boundary and the problems of Kennington Lane. Therefore, until such time as you go live, the actual traffic impacts are variable, the social impacts are unknown. It is obviously an area of risk and I think the rezoning of the station, called for by Southwark and by the eggs, is something you should give higher priority to as well as being probably the worst hit parts...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

You have often said, Ken, about congestion charging and bringing it into London, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. I have this petition from the residents of Southwark and Lambeth, round Kennington Lane, because, whilst I have zero sympathy with Westminster's case against you because it is politically motivated, I do have sympathy for the residents in this campaign by the Liberal Democrats. That would be a small gesture in the right direction for the residents who are the eggs in your omelette. Therefore, I would ask you to go further than you have just said by...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 16 July 2002

Well, their predictions are proving right, aren't they?