Andrew Pelling

Our town of Croydon, our city of london.

I have always been keenly interested in Croydon events and issues; however, as a member of the GLA, I have widened my focus to take a more in depth look of London as a whole.

As a non driver, I have a more than average concern about the standard of public transport in Croydon and I am committed to innovating our bus and tram network – I am currently lobbying TFL to extend the tram service to Crystal Palace. However, I don’t forget Croydon’s drivers and I have spoken out about unnecessary and traffic inducing bus lanes.

I am especially committed to Crossrail, and spoke in the Commons debate on the Crossrail Bill. I highlighted Croydon’s eagerness to ease heavily congested commuter lines, particularly with regards to the need for steady progress of the Thameslink 2000 project, alongside Crossrail, which will go a long way to easing Croydon commuters’ travel nightmares.

I am pleased and proud that London will be hosting the 2012 Olympic Games. However, I do not believe that Londoners have to unduly fund the games and I voted with the Conservative party in favour of capping the funding from London boroughs – currently the Commons have agreed to half the Olympics tax on London, until the Conservatives can agree a cap with the government.