Latest news Archive

A child is in hospital after being struck by a bus. The boy, who has not yet been identified, suffered minor injuries and was taken to St George's Hospital after the accident on Sheen Road, Richmond, on Friday, December 21.

14:32, 29 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

Businesses in Kingston want to know why they are being asked to pay the same as those in Canary Wharf towards the Crossrail project - even though it doesn't run through the borough. London Mayor Ken Livingstone wants to impose a two per cent levy to help pay for the line through a supplementary business rate (SBR).

Two thirds of Kingston businesses already pay a one per cent levy for the Business Improvement District and town centre manager Graham McNally said he would meet with the mayor to see if the BID levy could be offset against the two per cent SBR.

22:57, 25 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

A bus driver has denied causing a gran's death by driving dangerously. Ismail Ahmed, 42, faces the charge following an incident at Mortlake bus stand, North Worple Way, when Elizabeth Panton died. He also denies inflicting GBH on Mrs Panton's daughter, Sarah Hope, and a two-year-old child.

18:56, 21 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

The Government is committed to delivering a transport system which enables sustained economic prosperity and addresses the needs of the travelling public. Focussed around this commitment, the Department for Transport’s strategic objectives for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) period, which covers financial years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, have been set as follows:

  • To sustain economic growth and improved productivity through reliable and efficient transport networks;
  • To improve the environmental performance of transport;
  • To strengthen the safety and security of transport; and
  • To enhance access to jobs, services and social networks, including for the most disadvantaged.

In meeting these objectives, the Department’s challenge is to develop a transport system that delivers high-quality public services in the context of a transport network that is facing increasing demand. Key priorities in the current spending period are, for example, to improve capacity on the rail network, and to improve the reliability of journeys on the strategic road network.

23:02, 20 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees
The country's first urban road pricing pilot scheme is on the point of collapse, jeopardising the future of one of Labour's flagship transport policies, The Daily Telegraph has learnt. With the Government having already shelved a national scheme, it is understood that the proposed local charging experiment in Greater Manchester is now in serious doubt following a cooling of interest from local councils.
23:38, 17 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

Councillors have demanded a clampdown on cyclists who "blatantly disregard" signs and ride illegally in pedestrianised areas of Kingston.

The problem of cyclists using Clarence Street was raised at a Kingston town centre management meeting on December 7 and it was said that despite a two week police operation between November 12 and 25, where 160 people were stopped and warned about cycling in the area, no-one was fined.

17:34, 12 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

Residents say plans to put a bus stop outside their homes is "fraught with danger" and will deprive them of privacy. Plans to trial two proposed bus stops outside 219-223 Richmond Road and near Orleans School, Twickenham, have been met with anger from homeowners in the street.

11:48, 10 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

Female drivers called Emma from Sutton are among the most accident prone in Britain, according to a survey. Women called Eva from Kingston are also prone to prangs, says insurance firm esure. Emmas from Sutton were fourth in a list of the worst women drivers, with a crash risk rating of 69 per cent, while Evas from Kingston have a 60 per cent chance of a smash.

09:33, 10 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

The Department’s consultation paper – Strengthening Local Delivery – sought views on how bus passenger representation could be improved. The consultation paper asked for views on whether a new Board of traffic commissioners could provide a more high profile, recognised point to which passengers could address their concerns about punctuality and reliability of their local bus services. Whilst the Board proposal itself is not being taken forward there was a strong consensus from the consultation responses that passenger representation needed to be strengthened.

A number of respondents suggested that the creation of a statutory body to represent the interests of bus passengers at a national level would be the best approach. However there was no clear consensus amongst consultees and a range of different views on how we might best deliver this passenger representation. We decided therefore that we should invite further views before taking final decisions.

The consultation paper outlines four options for delivering a bus passenger champion, and we welcome your views on them.

20:42, 05 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, today called for more stations to join the Department's Secure Stations Scheme in 2008. Today, Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, will join Ruth Kelly to present awards for achievements in tackling crime at train stations across the UK. The awards event recognises those working to create a safer travelling environment and highlights the improvements the scheme can bring to the millions of passengers who use the railways each day.

17:21, 05 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees

Kingston has been successful in securing £4.8m of funding to spend on local traffic, transportation, highway and footway improvements from Transport for London (TfL) for the period between April 2008 and March 2009.  

This is a 7% increase on the current year’s allocation and the biggest year-on-year rise of any London Borough.

Every year, all London Boroughs compete for funding by submitting application documents to Transport for London detailing a range of projects and measures that will make using the highway network for residents and visitors safer, greener and more accessible whether they are travelling by public transport, by car, on foot or by bike.  In total £161m was made available across London for this purpose.

In Kingston, the money will be spent on a wide variety of schemes and programmes benefiting the entire borough, including:

  • £585,000 for pedestrian and cycling improvements across the Borough
  • £529,000 for school and work Travel Plans, to encourage parents, employees and visitors to use alternative means of transport to the car
  • £715,000 to improve bus priority and accessibility measures
  • £50,000 to promote campaigns that encourage greener travel, including: 'Bike Week', 'In town without my car day', 'National Liftshare Day' and 'Walking Works' - to promote walking to work
14:37, 01 Dec 2007 by Matthew Rees