Green Party

Darren, I've just got your flier through the door. Why do you show the 2006 local election results? Not the 2005 general election results. Is it not stretching the truth beyond breaking point to suggest only the Greens can beat Labour when you came fourth behind Conservative in the most recent general election? This is the kind of thing that puts people off politics -I'm looking for honesty in whoever is getting my vote.

Near the end of my road is a set of traffic lights. Every few weeks they go into a fault phasing which puts a pedestrian phase into every cycle. It is quite clear when this happens because of the longer queue of traffic. After some time engineers from TfL turn up, press a button and the problem goes away. There is a setting on the push buttons which will stop this problem, but TfL refuse to use it for “safety reasons”. I understand that frustrated drivers frequently block the junction and jump the lights. Not only do traffic queues increase pollution, as a cyclist I can tell you that frustrated impatient drivers also cause accidents and speed on rat runs. I have been in correspondence with TfL for nearly two years with regard to this one set of lights. 150 yards along the road is another set of lights with the same problem. I have asked TfL repeatedly how many sets are like this throughout London, but they refuse to even acknowledge the question.
In November The City of Westminster trialled the switching off of certain traffic lights (http://www.westminster.gov.uk/press-releases/2009-09/traffic-lights-switched-off-in-london-safety-exper/). According to TfL, “once these are completed we will assist them in switching out the lights”. Although this is a scheme of which I approve, it is interesting that they seem to have determined the outcome of the trial in advance. I have phoned TfL once and The City of Westminster four times to find out what has happened, no response.
My last letter from TfL was in December 2009, I am having trouble raising the will to respond, perhaps you can help.