Time for the Mayor to speak out on safety issues - Caroline Pidgeon

3.34.00pm GMT Thu 3rd Dec 2009

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, has today written to Mayor of London of London Boris Johnson urging him to publicly speak out on a series of safety allegations made by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.

Caroline Pidgeon said:

"Safety issues are far too important for the RMT to be the only voice. It is too easy for the RMT leadership to make serious allegations about risks to safety for passengers when in some cases modern technology is simply leading to modern working procedures.

"It is time that the Mayor, who is Chairman of Transport for London, took an active interest in this issue. If he is certain that the underground is safe it is time he said so and tackled head on the RMT's repeated scare stories."

ENDS

Copy of Caroline Pidgeon's letter to the Mayor enclosed.

Date: 3 December 2009

Boris Johnson

Mayor of London

City Hall

Dear Boris

As a matter of urgency I believe it is vital that as Mayor of London and Chair of Transport for London, you personally provide very clear and absolute assurances to tube passengers about the repeated allegations being made by the Rail Maritime and Transport union regarding reductions in safety standards on the underground. 

The RMT's latest allegations relate to reductions in inspections of escalators on the Jubilee Line, although they have also recently raised concerns about the impact of a move to change the 12-week frequency of signal maintenance on the Jubilee Line to a 16-week cycle.

Londoners and commuters need very clear assurances from their Mayor that these allegations are either groundless or that they are being properly addressed. At present this is not taking place in a satisfactory manner.

I personally have a very critical view of many aspects of the leadership of the RMT but I do believe that safety issues are of such importance that it is vital that you personally show an active interest in this issue and directly respond to the allegations being made.  After having investigated the issues it would be invaluable if you could as Mayor of London publicly and categorically state whether or not you fully endorse the views that have been so far been expressed by TfL in response to the series of safety concerns raised by the RMT.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Pidgeon

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson