UBER: We need these popular app services to thrive
Posted by GLA Conservatives in Opinion
The Uber app is not a taxi meter and the High Court has made the right call. But, TfL bosses need to make sure that the proposed measures in their own consultation do not stifle innovation. We need these hugely popular app based services to thrive. The consumer would be best served by light-touch, common sense regulation. I urge the Capital’s businesses and workers to respond to TfL’s consultation to make sure the consumer’s voice is heard.
The unions hate that the transport system is evolving
They’re against driverless trains, they’re against turning dead ticket offices into thriving retail units, now they’re against the night tube. The unions hate that the transport system is evolving and they oppose every money saving or revenue raising idea; ideas which would help lower fares and improve journeys for Londoners. This lot, with their anti-progressive attitudes, are only fast tracking their way to extinction.
Heathrow is the wrong choice
Heathrow is the wrong choice and shows the commission was a waste of time and money. It won’t be long before that runway is also at capacity. Soon we’ll have our 4 runways, then 6, but in parts of London that won’t work in sync. The Government now has no choice but to go back to the drawing board. Aviation needs a fresh start in the Capital with a bit of Victorian-style forethought. Instead of a confusing mishmash of runways and half-solutions scattered across the map, let’s get going on a coordinated, common-sense solution fit for the future.
£40m cash back for drivers by turning off traffic lights in London
Turning off traffic lights in London at night would slash vehicle emissions, wasted fuel, and journey delays – saving the Capital’s drivers millions of pounds every year.
A new report, “Green Light”, urges transport bosses and local authorities to assess road usage and traffic flow, and, where it is deemed safe, to turn off London’s traffic lights between midnight and 6am.¹
Switching off lights for the six-hour overnight period across 80 per cent of the Capital’s 2,532 relevant junctions would cut delays across the city by 2,251 hours every day – saving motorists £40m by 2020 in saved time and fuel.²
Walkouts in London number almost one a week – the Government needs to get tougher
The Government needs to get tougher with union barons, especially with public transport strikes. The UK may be bracing itself for a day of mass walkout, but there have already been 20 days of Tube strikes in London this year, the equivalent of almost a day a week. It’s barmy that power control room staff on the Underground are currently in the middle of a two week strike, despite earning £54k basic salary plus generous perks. Private sector workers such as cabbies, office secretaries or cleaners – on half the wage – wouldn’t be able to get away with it. The Mayor needs to lobby for New York style, judge led, mediation, which would protect workers’ rights and stop commuters and businesses from being hit by chaos and loss of pay.
You can sign my Government e-Petition on protecting workers by reforming public transport strike laws here.
One person hospitalised by London’s buses every day
London: 86 people have been hospitalised by bus collisions in just three months, working out to one hospitalisation a day.¹
Bosses at Transport for London have released the figures in response to specific recommendations in the report ‘Clear Road Ahead: Bus collisions and the need for transparency’.²
Do the decent thing, break these pointless strikes, and turn up to work
Brace yourselves Londoners, the unions are once again threatening Tube strikes from Tuesday, this time lasting for eight days. In the 21st century it is ridiculous that we have a system that encourages militant trade union bosses to behave in this way – despite their members getting decent pay, generous pensions and free travel for flatmates. We urgently need to replace public transport strikes with independent judge-led mediation to protect commuters from this ongoing misery. If you're a power worker on the London Underground, I urge you to do the decent thing, break these pointless strikes, and turn up to work as usual.
You can sign my Government e-Petition on protecting workers by reforming public transport strike laws here.
End £8.5m Lee Valley park tax on Londoners so cash can be invested locally
For the full size Lee Valley Park Infographic please click here
- Announcement to commercialise Lee Valley sporting and leisure venues will cut reliance on London taxpayers
- Visitors from Hounslow have to fork out £39.45 per visit while Waltham Forest visitors pay just 60p
- Lee Valley Park Authority should now set profit targets and become fully self-financing so investment can be protected for local parks
The Lee Valley Park Authority has announced plans to cut the money it takes from London taxpayers, by commercialising its major sporting and leisure venues, thereby increasing revenue from these assets.
The development comes following publication of the report, “London’s Hidden Charge: Ending the Lee Valley Tax”. The key recommendation is for the park to make more money from its assets and facilities, which for many years have been running at a loss. The report’s ultimate aim is for the park to become self-financing and ending its reliance on local taxpayers.
- More than 5,000 ppl signed the petition calling fr changes to the current CR2 proposals @KemiBadenoch @WimbledonNews https://t.co/JraHnbumBd
- .@KemiBadenoch receives a petition from @WimbledonNews and local residents opposing Crossrail 2 proposals https://t.co/NxaZBxwhrI
- .@SteveO_Connell says TfL's financial commitment 'is a sign that this plan is being taken seriously' https://t.co/EQf2Sfzlmb
