Chuka Umunna MP

First Capital Connect and Aslef have reached agreement on a revised pay offer but serious questions still remain for FCC.

A dispute over pay last month led to First Capital Connect (FCC), operators of the Thameslink train line in and out of London, only being able to run a skeleton service from Streatham, Tulse Hill and other train stations to central London, with as few as one train an hour remaining in operation.

Drivers angry at a pay offer offering a 0% rise this year and at least 3% next year, refused to work overtime and on rest days which led to FCC running the much reduced service. On 11 November 2009, Aslef - the train drivers union - announced that it would be balloting its 550-plus members working for FCC to take strike action over the issue.

On 19 November 2009 Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, wrote to Sir Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive FirstGroup Plc, to protest at the disruption caused to local residents. Umunna has asked to know why the situation was allowed to develop and what steps FCC were taking to resolve the dispute and get train services back running to normal levels. FCC have promised to provide a response to Mr Umunna shortly.

On Friday FCC announced that Aslef has considered a revised pay offer, equating to 5% over two years, and has agreed to recommend its acceptance to its members. Aslef have confirmed this . They are now working jointly to encourage drivers to resume rest day and overtime working. Services are not expected to return to normal until the New Year.

Commenting on this latest development, Mr Umunna said:

“Thameslink users will be delighted that an agreement has been reached and will look forward to a normal service being resumed as soon as possible but serious questions still remain.”

“First Capital Connect need to explain why on earth they have been operating a service without enough drivers – they should not be reliant on drivers agreeing to work overtime to provide a normal service.”

“I understand from reports that there are vacancies at Thameslink depots amounting to almost 10% of the work force. Why have First Capital Connect not recruited sufficient numbers of drivers to man their trains?”

Mr Umunna has also been running a campaign against proposals by Network Rail to terminate all northbound trains from Streatham and Tulse Hill train stations at Blackfriars. The Department of Transport is currently considering Network Rail’s proposals for the future of the line and Mr Umunna recently met with Minister of Transport, Sadiq Khan MP, to relay local residents’ views on the long-term planned changes to Streatham’s Thameslink service.

Hundreds of passengers have signed Mr Umunna’s petition opposing the changes and have joined his “Save Our South West London Thameslink Services” Facebook group.

Commenting on the future of Thameslink, Umunna said:

“Thameslink is an essential service for Streatham residents, linking the area with central London and beyond. That is why I have campaigned for an end to this dispute and against proposals to cut direct services to the City, Kings Cross and Luton Airport.”

Chuka has written to First Capital Connect protesting against the current disruption being experienced by Thameslink passengers and met with the Transport Minister to relay residents’ concerns over plans
for the line.

A dispute over pay this week has led to First Capital Connect (FCC) only being able to run a skeleton service from Streatham station to central London, with as few as one train an hour remaining in operation.

Chuka has written to First Capital Connect bosses, protesting at the unacceptable reduced timetable which is running on the line.

He is asking them why this situation has been allowed to develop and what steps they are taking to resolve the dispute and get train services back running to normal levels.

Chuka also met with Transport Minister Sadiq Khan MP to relay local residents’ views on the long-term planned changes to Streatham’s Thameslink service.

He raised with the Minister the potential threat to direct services from Streatham station beyond Blackfriars after 2015, telling him of the importance of Streatham’s link to the City, King’s Cross and Luton Airport.

Umunna has been running a campaign against proposals by Network Rail to terminate all northbound trains from Streatham at Blackfriars and wrote a letter to the former Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon against the plan earlier this year.

The Department of Transport is currently considering Network Rail’s proposals for the future of the line.

Hundreds of passengers have signed Mr Umunna’s petition opposing the changes and have joined his ‘Save Our South West London Thameslink Services’ Facebook group.

Chuka said:

“The disruption to Thameslink services this week has been awful and is simply unacceptable.

“First Capital Connect must ensure that it puts the needs of its passengers first and does all it can so that train services go back to normal as soon as possible.

“The future of Thameslink is an important long-term issue for our area. When I met with the Transport Minister, I was able to pass on exactly how strongly local residents feel about the Thameslink proposals tabled by Network Rail.”

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, has written to First Capital Connect protesting against the current disruption being experienced by Thameslink passengers and met with the Transport Minister to relay residents’ concerns over plans for the line.

A dispute over pay this week has led to First Capital Connect (FCC) only being able to run a skeleton service from Streatham station to central London, with as few as one train an hour remaining in operation.

Mr Umunna has written to First Capital Connect bosses, protesting at the unacceptable reduced timetable which is running on the line. He is asking them why this situation has been allowed to develop and what steps they are taking to resolve the dispute and get train services back running to normal levels.

Mr Umunna also met with Transport Minister Sadiq Khan MP to relay local residents’ views on the long-term planned changes to Streatham’s Thameslink service.

He raised with the Minister the potential threat to direct services from Streatham station beyond Blackfriars after 2015, telling him of the importance of Streatham’s link to the City, King’s Cross and Luton Airport.

Umunna has been running a campaign against proposals by Network Rail to terminate all northbound trains from Streatham at Blackfriars and wrote a letter to the former Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon against the plan earlier this year.

The Department of Transport is currently considering Network Rail’s proposals for the future of the line.

Hundreds of passengers have signed Mr Umunna’s petition opposing the changes and have joined his ‘Save Our South West London Thameslink Services’ Facebook group.

Commenting, Mr Umunna said:

“The disruption to Thameslink services this week has been awful and is simply unacceptable.

“First Capital Connect must ensure that it puts the needs of its passengers first and does all it can so that train services go back to normal as soon as possible.

“The future of Thameslink is an important long-term issue for our area.

“When I met with the Transport Minister, I was able to pass on exactly how strongly local residents feel about the Thameslink proposals tabled by Network Rail.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a major consultation on the future of London transport, which includes the potential scheme to bring the London Underground to Streatham.

Following the publication of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, Londoners are being asked to register their views.

This is an important opportunity to let the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) know what a difference a tube extension to Streatham, currently under consideration, would make.

The Mayor’s Transport Strategy recognised the lack of transport connections in South London, describing the “paucity of the Underground network” in the area and the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

It also confirms that TfL is looking into a number of options to extend the Bakerloo line southwards with the route currently being under development. The report pledges that the Bakerloo extension will serve “areas with poor transport accessibility”.

Despite these positive developments, we need to keep up pressure if we want a Streatham tube extension to become a reality.

The decision on where to build the tube extension will take into account the views of residents and you can take part in the consultation at http://www.london.gov.uk/shaping-london/ before it closes on January 12th 2010.

Registering views online only takes around 5 minutes and could help determine whether the Tube comes to Streatham or elsewhere.

If you haven’t yet signed the petition to bring the tube to Streatham, do so here.

London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a major consultation on the future of London transport, including the potential scheme to bring the London Underground to Streatham.

Following the publication of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, Londoners are being asked to register their views online. Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham Chuka Umunna is urging people to use the opportunity to let the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) know what a difference a tube extension to Streatham, currently under consideration, would make.

The Strategy Document notes the lack of transport connections in South London and describes the “paucity of the Underground network” in the area, as well as the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

It also confirms that TfL is looking into a number of options to extend the Bakerloo line southwards with the route currently being under development. The report pledges that the Bakerloo extension will serve “areas with poor transport accessibility”, a category into which local people argue Streatham falls.

The decision on where to build the tube extension will take into account the views of residents and people can take part in the consultation at http://mts.tfl.gov.uk/Have-your-say.aspx before it closes on January 12th 2010. Registering views online only takes around 5 minutes and could help determine whether the Tube comes to Streatham or elsewhere.

Supporters of the campaign should also sign the petition to bring the tube to Streatham at: http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/bring-the-tube-to-streatham.html

Chuka Umunna said:

“It is important that we take up this opportunity to send a strong message to TfL and the Mayor and let them know what a massive difference having the tube in Streatham would make.

“Our campaign is having an impact at the highest levels, and we must keep up the momentum if we want a Streatham tube extension to become a reality.

“I urge local residents to take part in the Mayor’s consultation as well as signing the petition.”

The campaign to Bring the Tube to Streatham was launched in July by Chuka Umunna and local people after TfL confirmed that it was considering extending the Bakerloo line to Bromley in Kent.

The government is introducing new regulations to stop unscrupulous clamping companies.

New restrictions include capping the maximum amount clamping firms are able to charge with a new £35 ceiling, a ban on ‘double charging’ where companies make motorists pay for both the clamp removal and for towing a vehicle away as well as a requirement that signs are displayed clearly.

Clampers will also have to wait for a minimum of three hours before removing a vehicle.

The government is also planning to make it compulsory for companies to sign up to a recognised trade body and a code of practice.

Action is being taken on firms issuing parking tickets after taking digital photographs of vehicles parked on private land, with the government limiting access to the DVLA’s vehicle database to members of the British Parking Association only.

The changes will mean that disreputable companies are no longer able to rely on unfair practices and over-zealous enforcement, and it is predicted that firms which continue to act in this way will go out of business as a result.

Mayor Boris Johnson recently announced a range of fare hikes for next year.

Pay as you go Oyster bus fares are rising by 20p to £1.20 and the cost of a weekly bus pass will be £16.60, £2.80 higher than the current price. On average, bus fares are going up by 12.7% and tube fares will increase by 3.9%.

Chuka is joining former Mayor Ken Livingstone in urging people to protest against the rises by emailing Boris Johnson at mayor {at} london.gov(.)uk.

Chuka said: “It is completely unacceptable for Boris to levy increases of up to 20% in the middle of a recession.

“Boris’ excuses are red herrings – these increases could have been avoided by abandoning his plans to subsidise well off polluters at the expense of the rest of us.

Last year Johnson decided to scrap the £25 congestion charge for London’s most polluting vehicles and Chuka is calling him to reverse this decision rather than hitting hard working people with fare hikes.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, condemns Mayor Boris Johnson’s fare hikes for Londoners in the middle of a recession.

Last week Conservative Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced that London’s bus fares would rise by an average of 12.7% from January 2010 while tube fares would rise by an average of 3.9%.

Single tube trips in zone one will increase by 20p to £1.80 and Oyster pay-as-you-go fares on buses will rise by 20p to £1.20. The cost of a seven-day bus pass would rise by £2.80 to £16.60.

Johnson has cited the recession and the policies of former Mayor Ken Livingstone as the reasons for the fare increases.

Commenting on the fare hikes, Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham said:

“It is completely unacceptable for Boris to levy increases of up to 20% in the middle of a recession.

“Boris’ excuses are red herrings – these increases could have been avoided by abandoning his plans to subsidise well off polluters at the expense of the rest of us.

“Boris should reverse his decision to scrap the £25 charge on mass polluting gas guzzlers, like Chelsea tractors, and he should retain the western extension of the congestion charge zone, instead of walloping hard working people in Streatham and the rest of London with these fare hikes.”

Umunna, Livingstone and others are urging local people to register their
anger at the rises by emailing the Mayor at mayor {at} london.gov(.)uk.

This week Minster for Transport – and MP for neighbouring Tooting – Sadiq Khan announced new powers for councils in London to prevent road works overrunning and causing disruption.

Councils will be allowed to co-ordinate street work to minimise delays, and stiffer fines will be introduced for companies failing to complete works on time. The new system will require companies to get a permit in advance and pay fines of up to £5,000 if the terms are broken.

Road works are necessary from time to time, but it is important that the inconvenience to businesses, residents and the travelling public are is minimised. The action the government is taking will ensure that road works cause as little congestion as possible.

Sadiq Khan said: “Everyone understands that road works can be necessary but the disruption being caused, and the constant inconvenience to the travelling public, is way beyond what is acceptable.

“I have spent a lot of time visiting sites around the country, and the impact on traffic is chaotic. Road works are stopping buses from running on time, harming local economies because of increased congestion and blocking routes to shops and commercial premises.”

Chuka’s letter was published in the Streatham Guardian on 8 October 2009, in response to a letter which featured the previous week:

What a pity that instead of hopping on board residents’ campaign to bring the tube to Streatham, Cllr Jeremy Clyne chooses to pour cold water on the idea (“No sign of Tube stop”, Letters, 1 October 2009). He suggests we claim TfL has already made a commitment to bring the tube to Streatham – this is certainly not the case otherwise what would be the point of the
campaign.

TfL initially only considered extending the Bakerloo line to Bromley via
Lewisham; thanks to hundreds of people like S Kazi (“Keep up Tube Momentum”, Letters, 24 September 2009) joining our campaign, TfL – whom I met with last month – is now considering two other options for the extension including one to Streatham via Camberwell and Herne Hill. To help make this a reality w need thousands not hundreds of signatures so I’d encourage everyone to sign the petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/bring-the-tube-to-streatham.html.

I have already joined forces with Cllr Clyne’s Lib Dem colleague, Vince
Cable MP, to campaign for a high pay commission and to argue against the Tories attack on our civil liberties. What a shame that Cllr Clyne refuses to follow his colleague’s example here to work across party lines with a Labour politician to improve things for local people.

Chuka Umunna
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham