Sadiq Khan splurging £33m a year on “ridiculous” free travel for the flatmates of TfL staff February 1, 2017 A perk for the flatmates of Transport for London employees is costing London taxpayers more than £33m a year in lost revenue, according to new figures. A new analysis by London Assembly Tories has called on mayor Sadiq Khan to scrap the “ridiculous” benefit, currently available to anyone sharing a residence with a TfL worker. [...]
Mayor’s concessions to the unions over Tube strikes will cost £17m a year, say GLA Conservatives February 1, 2017 Efforts to avoid a repeat of this month's hugely disruptive Tube strike will come at a hefty cost, GLA Conservatives have warned. London Underground (LU) bosses have been in fresh talks with the RMT union to try and avoid more walkouts starting at the end of this week. As part of its proposals made to both the RMT [...]
The Department for Transport pledges to improve accessibility on trains for disabled people February 1, 2017 The Department for Transport (DfT) has committed to improving disabled access to toilets on trains and stages. Clearer information will be made about the availability of accessible toilets in advance of journeys and the DfT will work with train companies to assess how staff training can be improved. It added that where facilities are out [...]
Look smart: essential facts about Smart Cities UK January 31, 2017 The UK cities will have to adopt a transformational approach to many aspects of infrastructure to attract investment and operate more efficiently, a London conference has heard. Held at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium, the Smart Cities UK 2017 Conference, Expo and Awards is part of a global initiative for major conurbations to achieve Smart City status. [...]
Talks get underway to avoid fresh Tube strikes after RMT union agrees to sit down with London Underground bosses January 31, 2017 Fresh talks are taking place today in a late effort to avoid more strike action on the London Underground, planned for this Sunday. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is meeting with LU bosses at conciliation service Acas. An RMT spokesperson said yesterday: "RMT has been available for further talks throughout the weekend and [...]
Mayor unveils plans to address skills shortages in London’s film industry and bump up investment January 31, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced his plans to make the capital the "world's most film-friendly city" – including the launch of a Cultural Infrastructure Plan. He will deliver a new skills strategy, alongside Creative Skillset and Film London, to identify shortages within London's film industry, establish ways into the sector for talented creatives and encourage [...]
Air pollution would cause more than half of Londoners to move away January 31, 2017 Over 60 per cent of city dwellers have considered moving out – and in London the main reason isn't because of house prices. According to online delivery firm AnyVan.com, which polled 1,000 adults, 62 per cent of city residents have mulled a move away. And the main reasons Londoners would move away were air pollution (52 per cent) and [...]
More than 400 routemaster buses were recalled over door faults last month January 30, 2017 Hundreds of Routemaster buses were recalled last month after experts found that rear doors on the vehicles could open while the bus is moving. 423 of the buses were taken off the streets after the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency raised concerns over the fault in December. A Transport for London spokesman told City A.M. the [...]
TSSA won’t be joining the RMT union in Tube strikes next week January 30, 2017 The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has announced that it will not join in with planned Tube strikes next week. The RMT union announced last week that London Underground workers will stage walkouts on the 5 and 7 February, as part of a row over jobs and ticket office closures. The RMT has instructed all London [...]
Enter The Dragon: Why China is snapping up British assets January 30, 2017 What do Heathrow, Thames Water, black cabs, Harvey Nichols and Rio Tinto have in common? They’re all part-owned by Chinese companies. “Britain holds a number of attractions for Chinese investors,” says Simon Bevan, head of the China Britain services group at Grant Thornton UK. “As a country, our language, business culture, rule of law and [...]