Munira Wilson with Caroline Pidgeon AM, Vince Cable MP and Susan Kramer protesting against Heathrow expansion

Superjumbos should not be allowed to fly in and out of Heathrow during the night says Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly candidate for South West London.

Emirates Airline, the Gulf carrier is currently seeking permission to fly massive  A380s in and of Heathrow up to 1am in the morning and restarting operations as early as 4am.

Commenting on these proposals Munira Wilson said:

“These proposals are totally unacceptable and should be rejected out of hand.

“Heathrow is already Europe’s noisiest airport.  For the many people who are affected by the intensive noise from daytime flights the current restrictions on late night flights are often the only thing that helps maintain their sanity.

“After being confronted with excessive noise throughout the day local residents have an absolute right to at least a good night’s sleep.”

Commenting further on the lack of comment about the proposals by the Mayor of London, Munira Wilson said:

“The Mayor of London is obviously grateful for Emirates Airline contributing some of the funding for the Thames cable car.   But what is the real price for their contribution?

“Could their contribution for his vanity project be the reason why he is reluctant to speak out and challenge the company over their proposals for night time flights?”

The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for urgent improvements to make Whitton

Munira Wilson, Cllr Arnie Gibbons, Cllr LIz Jaeger and Norman Baker at Whitton station

station fully accessible, with better drainage to prevent puddles and flooding on the walkways, re-opening of the toilets, extending canopies and making aesthetic improvements to the station’s footbridge.

Munira Wilson said, “Norman Baker was horrified by the state of Whitton station and agreed with me that action was needed.  As a minister in the Transport Department Norman has responsibility for Access for All funding and he promised to see where Whitton station is on the list and see if work can be accelerated.”

“It was great to be able to invite a Liberal Democrat Transport minister down to Whitton station and show what is needed”, continued Munira Wilson.  “Hopefully now Norman Baker has seen the issues first hand he can help get some action taken to bring about the much needed improvements.”

Sir

Local residents came up with an imaginative alternative low-rise plan for Twickenham station, which was economically viable, made better provision for the crowds on event days and, crucially, proposed a third of the housing units in the development as affordable.  Local London Assembly Member, Tony Arbour, was only too happy to have his photo taken with their petition at City Hall, yet is nowhere to be seen when his fellow Richmond cabinet member is praising the Mayor for supporting the Conservative Council’s decision.

Perhaps Eric Pickles, who considers it appropriate to meddle in local councils’ refuse and recycling arrangements, will see fit to get involved in this important development and stop the Solum plan in its tracks.  We are all committed to an improved, modern Twickenham station but not at any cost, especially when there is such a pressing need for affordable housing in the borough.

Munira recently met with RNIB volunteer, Jackie Venus from

Munira and Jackie at the George Street crossing in Richmond

Twickenham, who campaigns on issues impacting the lives of those who are blind or partially sighted.  Jackie, who is registered blind herself, told Munira about the challenges of trying to cross the road when pedestrian crossings do not have an audible sound (bleeping) and tactile rotating cones under the box with the push button.  The latter is particularly important for those who are both blind and deaf.

A recent Freedom of Information request by Lib Dem London Assembly Member, Caroline Pidgeon, revealed that at least five[i] Transport for London (TfL) crossings in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (out of 347 across London) do not comply with guidance put in place in 1995 to ensure crossings are safe for those who are blind or partially sighted.  They are:

KINGSDOWNE ROAD – LANGLEY ROAD

KEW ROAD – MORTLAKE ROAD

MANOR ROAD – KINGSTON ROAD – FERRY ROAD

A205 UPPER RICHMOND ROAD – VINE ROAD – PRIORY LANE

RUGBY ROAD – WHITTON ROAD

Munira and Jackie found a further crossing in George Street, Richmond, outside Superdrug, does not have rotating cones.

Jackie said, “With George Street being such a busy thoroughfare, the bleeping can often be drowned out by large vehicles, posing a real challenge for those who are blind or partially sighted to cross safely.  I rely on the rotating cones to ensure I can cross safely.  My independence is very important to me and I want to be able to get out and about safely.  I am unable to go to the RFU to buy tickets for events because the Rugby Road – Whitton Road crossing doesn’t have cones or an audible sound, and there aren’t usually enough people crossing for me to follow the crowd.  This is unacceptable and I urge TfL to take urgent action.”

Munira said, “It is a disgrace that 17 years after guidance was put in place to ensure those who are blind or partially sighted can cross safely, there are still a number of crossings failing to comply.  TfL must urgently address this issue so that all local residents have the freedom to walk around and use local facilities safely and confidently.  I call on the local London Assembly Member to ensure the Mayor, as Chair of TfL, makes all Richmond crossings safe for the blind and partially sighted.”

The Mayor has quietly put in place a recruitment freeze for all Police

Brian Paddick, Munira Wilson & Caroline Pidgeon speaking to a PCSO in Richmond

Community Support Officer (PCSO) vacancies across London, leaving gaps in many of our local SNTs.  This shocking news follows recent cuts to SNT sergeants, with some wards in Hounslow now having to share a sergeant.  SNTs were set up so that every council ward had one sergeant, two PCs and three PCSOs.

Neighbouring Borough Commanders confirmed the freeze was put in place last year and the Metropolitan Police careers website states, “Unfortunately the MPS is not currently recruiting PCSOs”.

An analysis of the 54 wards in the South West London Assembly Constituency shows eight wards in the London Borough of Hounslow missing one PCSO, six wards in the Royal Borough of Kingston missing one PCSO and eight wards in the London Borough of Richmond missing one PCSO.  Additionally, four wards in the London Borough of Richmond are forced to share their sergeant, making their job even harder.

South West London Conservative Assembly Member, Tony Arbour, whose job it is to hold the Mayor to account for our area, has remained silent on the issue.

Munira Wilson said, “I am very worried about these cuts to local policing and I am campaigning strongly against them.  The Lib Dems at City Hall have committed to protecting frontline policing by cutting spending on consultants, PR and police perks.  There is no need for these damaging stealth cuts by the Conservatives.  As the local London Assembly member, I’m amazed that Tony Arbour is not demanding answers on the recruitment freeze and making the case for our area.

“I am particularly concerned that these figures will continue to rise as new PCs are only being recruited from the PCSO and Special Constable pools, and no doubt we will see further cuts once Olympics cash dries up.”

Munira has launched a petition to protect our Safer Neighbourhood Teams on her website: www.munira.org.uk .

Notes

 The attached spreadsheet provides an analysis of wards across Hounslow highlighting which wards are missing PCSOs and those which now have a shared sergeant.  The data is based on information from the Metropolitan Police website.  Hounslow team details can be found here, Kingston team details can be found here and Richmond details can be found here.

At a meeting of the London Assembly to discuss the Mayor’s budget, Tony Arbour defended the 7% fare hike by saying, “It is a fact is it not that relatively few Londoners use London transport in any way?  Most people don’t use London Transport with any sense of regularity.”

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat South West London GLA candidate said, “These comments are absolutely shocking and show just how out of touch Mr Arbour is with his own constituents.  Thousands of local residents across the London Boroughs of Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow – the areas he supposedly represents – use public transport every single day.  They have been hit by an inflation-busting 7% hike in fares, whilst their GLA member stands idly by doing nothing and pretending they simply don’t exist.

“Perhaps Mr Arbour fails to feel their pain because he claims on expenses the cost of his zone 1-6 season ticket to travel to City Hall, whilst most residents pay from their own pocket to get to their place of work.

“Not only have the Liberal Democrats at City Hall proposed a £13 reduction per household in the GLA precept of the council tax, they have also put forward a package of measures to make fares fairer, particularly for those on low incomes.  It’s time for a local GLA member who will stand up for hard-pressed local residents and make their case at City Hall.”

Notes

Tony Arbour’s quote at the London Assembly plenary session on 9 February 2012 can be watched here at 59 minutes into proceedings.

His 2011-12 expense claim as a London Assembly member, showing his claim for a zone 1-6 travelcard, can be viewed here.

South West London GLA candidate and local Lib Dem councillors are calling on Richmond Council to work with the relevant authorities and prioritise Whitton Station for improvements this year. The most important issue is to make the station fully accessible, but other improvements include better drainage to prevent puddles and flooding on the walkways, re-opening of the toilets, extending canopies and aesthetic improvements to the footbridge.

Scores of local residents have already signed a Lib Dem petition in support of these proposals.

Munira Wilson said, “It’s high time we had a station in Whitton fit for the 21^st century – the station is currently in a terrible state and impossible to access for the disabled or parents with pushchairs.  There are plans or funding in place for improvements to other major stations in the borough and now Whitton must be made a priority.

“Local residents have already shown overwhelming support for these proposals to be implemented.  Nationally there is funding available from the Department for Transport (DfT) to improve station access. I call on the Council, with South West Trains and Network Rail, to bid to the DfT so Whitton can benefit from these access funds.  Whitton station must get the investment it needs to be a decent, modern station for local commuters, as well as the thousands of visitors on rugby days.”

The Richmond Street Pastors team was set up six months ago by volunteers from local churches who give up time and sleep on a Friday night to listen to, care for and help all those out and about late on the streets of Richmond.  They have built up strong relationships with bouncers at Richmond bars and clubs, as well as the local Police who have just given them a grant of £9,000 because of their valuable work.

Lollipops are their weapons in defusing potential fights and they hand out flip flops to women who have come out of the bars and clubs having had a few too many and taken off their shoes.  They remove bottles and glasses from the streets that could become weapons and befriend those who are lonely or homeless.

Munira Wilson, London Assembly candidate  “The Richmond Street Pastors are doing a fantastic job and it was great to see how they have won the trust of local party-goers, residents, Police and door staff alike.  It was a privilege to meet these volunteers who sacrifice their time and go into difficult situations to keep Richmond town centre peaceful for all our benefit.”

Former senior Metropolitan police officer and Lib Dem candidate for Mayor of London, Brian Paddick said,

“The Street Pastor movement is inspiring and I’d like to see even more such community-based initiatives to help make London’s streets safer.  In the face of recent local neighbourhood policing cuts with potentially more to come post Olympics, the Street Pastors are fulfilling a vital role in Richmond and other town centres across the capital.”

Local residents were shocked to hear Tory MP for neighbouring Spelthorne constituency this week suggest that a new runway be built at one of the airports in the South East – potentially even at Heathrow.

Following years of campaigning by Liberal Democrats, local community groups and thousands of local residents, the fight to block a third runway at Heathrow was finally won when the Coalition Government took power in 2010 and scrapped Labour plans for the runway.

Now, Kwasi Kwarteng MP has called on the Government to think again.

Munira Wilson said, “After the long, costly and gruelling battle to stop the third runway at Heathrow, it’s shocking to hear that a neighbouring MP wants the debate re-opened.  Residents in Richmond and Hounslow boroughs already have to suffer the effects of terrible air and noise pollution from the airport, not to mention the congestion.  Our efforts should be focused on ensuring there is no permanent relaxation to the rules on runway alternation, following the Government’s current and summer pilots.  Talk of a third runway should be firmly put to bed.”

Munira was joined by Vince Cable MP and other local campaigners to talk to local commuters about their proposals outside Twickenham, Whitton and Richmond stations during the rush hours on Tuesday 10 January.

Munira said, “Many local residents have been complaining about the latest fare rises, adding to the soaring cost of living in the capital. In the face of a New Year 7% fare hike by the Mayor of London – well above inflation – Liberal Democrats are offering a series of targeted measures which will help local residents, particularly those on low pay.

“Early bird fares would encourage commuters to travel outside the normal rush hour, alleviating overcrowding and saving passengers money, whilst a one hour bus ticket would enable passengers to hop on and off buses for a flat rate over the course of an hour.

“Richmond borough residents were also hit hard by the Mayor who withdrew the zone 2-6 travelcard without notice or consultation. Why should those not travelling into Zone 1 have to pay Zone 1 fares?

“Commuters are fed up of the phoney war over fares between Boris and Ken – Lib Dem plans would make a real difference to the lives of local residents, making travel more affordable.”