Ashley Gunstock, the Green Party GLA candidate for Havering & Redbridge, is at present campaigning on an initiative that is gaining momentum, a good deal of publicity and local and regional interest.Ashley was approached by a resident, with whom he is working on another ongoing issue, about whether or not he could do something about getting Wanstead, Snaresbrook & Redbridge Central Line Tube stations being re-designated into Zone 3.
After further investigation Ashley found that, although on the Underground system they are mapped as being in Zone 4, Wanstead, Snaresbrook & Redbridge stations are, in fact, geographically in Zone 3. Furthermore it turns out that other tube stations that have Zone 3 status, eg. Northfields, are further from central London than the three stations in question.
In view of this Ashley confronted Mayor Ken Livingstone - at a People's Question Time at Redbridge Town Hall - and asked him if, in the spirit of his Fares Fair initiative of the 1980s, he would be prepared to look into the possible re-zoning of the three stations that are situated in the borough of Redbridge. The Mayor in turn requested that Ashley contact Roger Evans - Transport Committee Chairperson for the GLA and his Conservative constituency opponent in the last two and forthcoming GLA elections!
With the help of Green GLA member Jenny Jones, Ashley was put in touch with Mr Evans. During their subsequent meeting at City Hall, Mr Evans agreed to put the matter before the Ken Livingstone provided that Ashley drew up a petition to gauge interest in the issue. Weight has since been added to the argument, as a precedent has recently been set, with the re-designation of Hampstead and Willesden Junction Tube stations from Zone 3 to 2, so there is good reason to be optimistic that Ashley's campaign will be a success.
Ashley has a petition posted on the Number 10 Downing Street site at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Re-zoning which already has over 150 signatures and that he hopes that you will put you names to, if you have not already done so.
