Councillors' vote of no confidence in Transport for London (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Councillors' vote of no confidence in Transport for London

October 13, 2008 12:07 PM

Roadworks sign Islington's Liberal Democrat-run council passed a vote of no confidence in Transport for London at the meeting of full council this month, and called on the Government for the major roads in the borough to be put back under council control. Councillors slammed TfL for a litany of failure on road safety and for failing to make progress on removing the outdated gyratory systems that blight Islington's roads.

The Liberal Democrat motion to council criticised TfL for:

Failing to ensure safety at critical locations despite repeated requests, including at the junction where a pedestrian was recently killed while crossing the road.
Failing to respond adequately to the council's sustainable transport policies.
Failing to make progress on improving road layouts at Archway, Finsbury Park, Kings Cross, Old Street, and Nags Head.
Refusing to release the results of the public consultation on Highbury Corner for six months.
Refusing the upgrade road crossing to disability standards.
Failing to invest in maintaining roads.

Islington Council vowed to use the new Sustainable Communities Act to submit proposals to the Government for the transfer of Islington's major TfL roads - and their funding - back to the council.

Councillor Greg Foxsmith, Islington's Lib Dem transport chief, said:

"Transport for London has been failing Islington for some time now. People have literally died while we wait for them to take action at accident black spots like the junction of Fieldway Crescent.

"Neither Ken nor Boris seem to have been able to give TfL the direction it needs to serve our borough properly, and we're tired of waiting.

"It's time to bring these roads back under local control. We know what local people want, and we are better placed to give it to them - the council is already investing over 26 times more money than TfL in Islington's roads."