Over the last month, my work at City Hall has focussed upon enhancing the transport infrastructure in our community and across London.

I recently met with the new deputy mayor for transport, Heidi Alexander, to raise a number of local issues.

For many years, the local council have been campaigning for the rezoning of the borough’s tube stations.

I took this up with the deputy mayor, making the argument that a move from Zone 5 to Zone 4 will go some way towards alleviating the burden of transport costs on local household budgets, which have been stretched by the burgeoning costs of living.

We also discussed the A13 underpass, and I gained assurances that the construction of Barking Overground is on course, despite TfL’s current financial situation brought on by government cuts.

With the many developments along our river front, the extension of the Clipper service to Barking Riverside should be particularly welcomed.

In addition, there is evidently a clear need for a river crossing on our side of east London, and I have urged the deputy mayor to keep this firmly on TfL’s agenda.

Finally, the renaming of the Hammersmith and City Line is long overdue.

I am fully behind the local council’s proposals for it to be renamed as the Barking and Hammersmith line, which will both more realistically reflect its route and the fact that London is moving east.