Lynne Featherstone

Having attended Conference Committee to iron out any wrinkles in the arrangements for the debate I will be chairing the next day (interesting notions like who’s summating the amendments and what is the time split between mover and summator.) It doesn’t get more riveting than this. Then off to the Purbeck Suite where I am speaking in the Transport for London (TfL) fringe on traffic in London. Peter Hendy and Bill Hamilton are there for TfL and Lord Bill Bradshaw is there to talk about the Traffic Bill. I am covering congestion charging.

TfL have laid on wine and food – so it’s a good bet that the meeting will be well attended. As I walk into the room, my researcher tips me off that TfL are very cross with me as they’ve seen the speech I gave to the Institute of Civil Engineers the previous Thursday night.

I had merely pointed out that getting information out of TfL was akin to getting blood out of a stone, that they were anal retentive and that I kept coming up against the rubberised walls of TfL Public Relations. Having grabbed a glass of wine – I was ready for the attack. I disarmed them by saying I had heard that they were on the warpath – but that I stood by what I had said.

I suggested to Peter and Bill that I give them some examples of requests for information (details and dates) – so that they can track what happens their end. We will see if this prompts the answers I have been waiting so long for.

Then we got on with the debate which went really well (probably the wine) and the room was packed and there were lots of questions and comments – which always makes for a lively time.