Liberal Democrats take the lead in supporting car clubs - Pidgeon

12.31.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Apr 2008

Liberal Democrat councils have the best record of any political party in supporting the growth in car clubs across London

This week Transport for London granted £1 million of funding to support the growth of car clubs across London over the next years. Less than two thirds of London boroughs actually applied for funding (19 out of 33 boroughs), yet all seven Liberal Democrat councils in London rose to the challenge and successfully secured funding for their boroughs.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson and Vice Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee said:

"Liberal Democrats have a long standing record of supporting the growth in car clubs. In Islington in particular we have led the way with the borough having the largest 'Car Club' anywhere in Europe with 69 vehicles available within the borough boundaries.

"Across London many Labour and Tory run councils are failing to give real suppport to car clubs. In contast Liberal Democrat councils are giving them total support. I am also urging the Mayor of London to support the use of electric cars in car clubs, based on an electric hire scheme that already exists in Paris.

"When it comes to reducing parking pressures and protecting the environment Liberal Democrat Councils from Richmond to Islington are leading the way."

Notes to editors

1. Transport for London announcement on its £1 package to enable more Londoners to access car clubs was made on 3rd March 2009 http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/11282.aspx

2. The following 19 London boroughs applied and obtained funding from TfL

Barking and Dagenham

Brent (Lib Dem led)

Camden (Lib Dem led)

Greenwich

Hackney

Haringey

Hillingdon

Hounslow

Islington (Lib Dem)

Kingston Upon Thames (Lib Dem)

Lambeth

Lewisham

Merton

Redbridge

Richmond Upon Thames (Lib Dem)

Southwark (Lib Dem led)

Sutton (Lib Dem)

Waltham Forest (Lib Dems are part of a joint administration)

Wandsworth

3. Caroline Pidgeon has taken the lead in pressing Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, to support the growth of electric cars within car clubs, similar to the electric car scheme that already exists in Paris. For more details see http://www.gla.libdems.org.uk/news/000672/london_must_follow_paris_in_electric_car_revolution__pidgeon.html