News from London Assembly Labour

No vision and no ambition: London shifting into reverse gear

The London Assembly Labour group have slammed Boris Johnson’s transport plans as lacking in any vision or ambition. Labour’s transport spokesperson, Val Shawcross, says this rambling and incoherent document lacks either common sense or future direction.

Speaking as the Mayor launched his transport strategy, ‘Way to Go’, Val said:

“This is a huge disappointment for London’s travelling public. In his six months as Mayor this drivel is all Boris has managed to come up with.

“Any serious transport strategy for London would include a commitment to additional major transport schemes and a clear aim to shift people from private cars to public transport, walking and cycling.

“He talks about investing in major projects yet only lists a few schemes, Crossrail for example, which were underway before he was elected. There is no discussion of how transport will support economic regeneration in London. He avoids any discussion of the proposed Cross River Tram, the Thames Gateway Bridge, the Docklands Light Railway, transit schemes, or the Croydon Tramlink extensions. He is indecisive and dithers on the congestion charge.

“There is nothing about how the Mayor will encourage people onto public transport, but plenty about giving back road space and speeding up traffic lights in favour of the ‘oppressed’ motorist. He is openly hostile about children using the bus service. He seems to have no view on which areas of London are currently lacking in good, fast transport links and there is no attempt to indicate where he feels public transport passengers are particularly disadvantaged. There is no linkage in this document to any plans for an economic or housing growth plan for London. Creating the links between people’s homes and jobs should be fundamental to any transport strategy.

“He talks briefly about clean air but suggests no mechanism for ensuring that London has a clear and decisive programme to reduce pollution and carbon dioxide from traffic.

“This document represents a shocking failure to understand the importance of transport to Londoners and fails on every single level to provide London with a ‘direction of Travel’ on our future transport needs. It is utter drivel.”

Other news from London Assembly Labour

• TfL reports another huge operating surplus of £310m – it's time to cut the fares - 2 February 2012
• Murder detection rates down 10% in London as police numbers fall - 2 February 2012
• Christine Quigley becomes latest London Assembly Labour candidate - 1 February 2012