Issues
Transport - my number ONE priority for South West London
Munira will campaign for:
- Better integration of transport services
- A better deal for Zone 4-6 residents who have been hit hard by Boris’s fare hikes
- A one-hour bus ticket
- Re-zoning of Kingston and Surbiton stations to Zone 5
- Re-routing of 110, improved frequency of 481 and a new Twickenham to Kingston via Strawberry Hill bus route
- Appropriate road safety schemes and crossings
- Eurostar platforms at Waterloo to be brought into use
- Sensible closure periods for the District and Piccadilly line upgrades
- Sensitive re-development of Twickenham station
Within the South West London constituency where the mainline rail service is such a critical part of the infrastructure, together with two tube lines, scores of bus routes and even a small part of the London Overground network, ensuring transport services are joined up and different operators co-operate is critical. As Boris inflicts big budget cuts on Transport for London, those living in outer London are having to pay the price in terms of massive hikes in fares and scrapping of travelcards which exclude Zone 1.
The Mayor has also let Kingston and Surbiton residents down by failing to deliver on his promise to consider reviewing whether these stations could be moved into Zone 5. I will campaign alongside Ed Davey MP and local councillors to ensure a review takes place, as Kingston and Surbiton residents are unfairly hit by Zone 6 fares, when a number of other Zone 5 stations are located further out.
In a constituency where some areas have no train or tube service, a reliable and frequent bus service is crucial for many people. The benefits of a one-hour bus ticket, which London Lib Dems have long been calling for, are clear and I will join with our Assembly Members in making the case this. A number of local residents have already told me they would like to see a more frequent 481 bus service which crosses all three boroughs but only runs once an hour until 7pm, and a re-routed 110 bus to serve Whitton High Street, especially since the closure of Heathfield Library. I intend to work alongside local councillors, MPs and others to campaign for these service improvements.
We must also continue to push for the former Eurostar platforms to be brought into use for local train services, which will help reduce delays and improve efficiency. Thousands of commuters are kept waiting outside Waterloo station on their daily commute as drivers wait for a platform to become available.
Boris recently scrapped plans for a crossing on the A316 near Meadway, which would have enabled hundreds of residents to get safely across to Whitton Station and High Street. Munira, Vince Cable MP and a number of local councillors had campaigned hard for this crossing. We must hold the Mayor to account for this decision and ensure these plans are revived.
Action on housing
Munira will campaign to:
- Bring empty homes back into use, prioritising council and social housing stock
- Ensure all new developments include affordable housing
- Make existing housing stock greener and ensure new stock is sustainable
Many young people who have grown up in South West London are being forced out of the area due to spiralling house prices. Teachers, nurses and other public sector workers who deliver local services often can’t afford to live here. Too many families are living in overcrowded homes, as I saw through my casework as a councillor and when I occasionally covered Vince Cable MP’s surgery.
Boris Johnson has let London down by missing his own housing target and scrapping the benchmark of affordable housing in new developments. He must be held to account. The Lib Dem GLA members have offered distinctly liberal and creative solutions to help tackle this housing crisis, such as proposing Community Land Trusts and securing private institutional investment.
I will work alongside our councillors and prospective councillors in Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow boroughs to secure more affordable and more sustainable housing within new developments (such as the Twickenham station and Skerne Road power station re-developments). We need to see more “build to let” development, not just building to sell.
According to the Empty Homes charity, there are between 1300 and 2000 empty homes in each of the three boroughs within the South West London constituency. We need action to work with landlords (private and social), councils, the London Assembly and central Government to ensure the right incentives are in place for these homes to be brought back into use. I have spoken to families with three children crammed into a small two bedroom flat, wondering why a family house in the same estate, owned by the same housing association, is standing empty.
Keeping local communities safe
Munira will campaign to:
- Defend ward-based Safer Neighbourhood Teams where these may be under threat
- Protect Police officers from Boris’s cuts and find savings from PR spend, perks and bureaucracy
- Promote the use of “community hubs” and other community facilities as potential sites for Police counters
As a local councillor, Munira worked closely with the West Twickenham Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) to effectively tackle anti-social behaviour on Twickenham Green, Crane Park and Glebe Gardens. SNTs have worked effectively with local communities in each ward, setting collective priorities and providing accessible policing to local residents. Munira will campaign to ensure every ward in the South West London constituency retains its own SNT. The cuts the Mayor is making to Police numbers are unnecessary. Our GLA members have shown that by using the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) budget more efficiently, through cutting consultancy spend, PR spend and travel perks, we can keep money in frontline policing.
With the MPA reviewing its Police “counter” presence across London, as part of its efficiency drive, Munira is keen to see Police counters located in community hubs and other multi-purpose public facilities, where appropriate. Not only is this more cost-effective, but ensures the Police are more accessible to the public and part of our local communities.
The bustling night time economies of Kingston, Richmond and Hounslow town centres with their high number of bars, pubs and clubs are often a cause of concern to local residents, and fear of crime in these areas can be high. Munira will work with the Police, councillors and local community groups to ensure, where appropriate, cumulative impact zones are implemented, like the one in Kingston town centre which is currently under consultation. We also need to ensure a range of social and leisure activities are offered in the small and large town centres to cater to all tastes, interests and demographics.
2 Responses to Issues
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mr k davis says:
con grat on you win in london sleton
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You mention air pollution but under transport mention one non-polluting form only by implication and the other not at all.
“road safety” why not “road danger reduction ” ?
Total 20 ?