London TravelWatch appoints former top civil servant as chair

London TravelWatch has today announced that Tricia Hayes is to be its new chair.

London TravelWatch is the statutory transport watchdog for the capital, representing the voice of passengers, using evidence to campaign to improve journeys and advocate for all people travelling around the city. Established in July 2000, London TravelWatch is funded by the London Assembly and is independent from the transport operators.

Hayes succeeds Arthur Leathley, who has been chair of London TravelWatch since September 2017 and whose term of office has now come to an end.

She has been appointed following a recruitment process led by the London Assembly’s Transport Committee and subsequent confirmation by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Her term of office runs for four years and she will also sit as a board member on another transport watchdog, Transport Focus.

Hayes is a former Permanent Secretary in Whitehall with 35 years experience in the Civil Service, predominantly in transport. She is also a member of the British Transport Police Authority.

“I want to make a practical, positive difference to the experience of those who live, work and travel in London,” Hayes said.

“Under Arthur Leathley’s excellent leadership, London TravelWatch has clocked up some important wins for London’s travelling public. I am very much looking forward to working with our chief executive Michael Roberts and the whole London TravelWatch team to continue and build on this essential work.”

London Assembly Member Keith Prince, the chair of the transport committee at City Hall, said, “I am very grateful to Arthur Leathley under whose leadership London TravelWatch’s standing has improved. Arthur should be very proud of what he has achieved.

“I am also delighted that we have been able to secure the services of someone of the calibre of Tricia Hayes as our new chair. I very much look forward to working with Tricia and her team to take London TravelWatch to the next level.”

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