Questions over funding of the Thames Cable Car still remain – Caroline Pidgeon (London Assembly Liberal Democrats)

London Assembly Liberal Democrats <[email protected]>

Questions over funding of the Thames Cable Car still remain – Caroline Pidgeon

June 18, 2012 1:21 PM

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the announcement that the Thames Cable Car will open from midday on Thursday 28 June said:

"It is welcome news that the Thames Cable Car will be open before the Olympic Games, as additional forms of transport will be helpful in dealing with the exceptional pressures the capital will face later this Summer, and help spectators travel between the Excel and O2 venues.

"However in the long term it is clear that the Thames Cable Car will not be an integral part of London's public transport. For example why should local people with a Zone 3 weekly, monthly or yearly travelcard be charged for using this service? And how many people are really going to use this service as opposed to their normal mode of transport?

"Boris Johnson needs to come clean and explain just how much the cable car will be costing London's taxpayers. Two years ago he misled Londoners by claiming it would not cost a penny of public money, yet in reality millions of public money has poured into the project with the final figure facing taxpayers still not clear."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The initial pledge that the Thames Cable Car would financed entirely from private finance can be seen here:

^{http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/metro/16142.aspx}

Some information about the actual funding arrangements for the Thames Cable Car can be seen here:

^{http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=39045}