CONTINUED efforts to increase safety on Worcestershire’s roads has been boosted with an additional £250,000 being invested into the Safer Roads Fund.
After no grants were allocated in the first round of funding, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion has added to the pot in a bid to continue efforts to make the county’s roads safer.
With funding of £250,000 available, the PCC is encouraging more parish councils to get involved to make their communities safer. The grant will be split into two lots to accommodate a number of projects.
The first lot – £100,000 – will be for the provision of small grants and local schemes, including vehicle activated signs and white gates while the second lot of £150,000 will be for the provision of larger grants for geographically wider ideas.
Building on the PCC’s £900,000 road safety investment into West Mercia Police, the additional funding will support communities to introduce new innovative campaigns, ideas and interventions which can reduce collisions, traffic offences and increase driver awareness to help improve behaviour.
Communities and partners across the three counties can apply for funding to launch measures in their area to address local road safety concerns. The fund cannot be used for statutory road engineering projects which would normally be funded by the local authority.
Mr Campion said:
“Road safety is a key pillar of my Safer West Mercia Plan. It’s a sad fact too many people are killed or are seriously injured on our roads and as the voice of the public in policing, I hear from many residents about their concerns around road safety.
“That’s why I am making £250,000 available through a second round of my Safer Roads Fund. I would encourage communities and local partners who want to make roads safer in West Mercia, to complete the application by no later than midday on Friday, February 2.”
More information alongside details on the Safer Roads Fund application process can be found on the West Mercia PCC website – www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk/saferroadsfund
