A Northamptonshire scheme allowing community groups to apply for grant funding to improve road safety has been highlighted at a regional safety summit.
The East Midlands and East of England Road Safety Summit took place in Lincolnshire on Fridat (September 15), giving Police and Crime Commissioners, road safety experts and local transport officers a forum to discuss strategies to make our roads safer.
The event highlighted schemes from around the region that are being put in place to help cut the number of road accidents.
One of the projects on show is the scheme run by Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold, which allows local community groups to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to improve road safety in their communities.
The Road Safety Community Fund supports initiatives that positively affect the Commissioner’s road safety priorities, including speed reduction, anti-social road use, distraction driving, and initiatives that improve road safety around school gates.
This year, community groups and parish councils have already received more than £25,000. This has enabled them to buy Vehicular Activated Signs (VAS) and Speed Indicator Devices (SID), install traffic calming measures and has funded signage, parking buddies and lollipop provisions to improve road safety around some of our county’s schools.
Alison Holland founder of Brightwayz, an organisation that has supported schools and community groups in devising road safety plans said: “The Road Safety Community Fund is a great source of funding which communities and schools can access to help improve road safety in and around their locality.
“We are hugely supportive of the Commissioner’s commitment to achieving safer roads in Northamptonshire and are keen to see more schools securing funding to deliver activities such as School Play Street events, Park and Stride schemes and the purchase of bikes and bike sheds for children to use. I encourage anyone wanting to address road safety issues to apply for a grant and help to make our county’s roads safer.”
‘Vision Zero,’ a strategy that has radically cut road deaths in Sweden since it was created in the 1990s, was also discussed at the Summit. Some areas of the UK, including Cambridgeshire, are already implementing Vision Zero and shared their experience with the other attendees.
Stephen Mold said: “The harm and loss of life on our roads is a real cause of concern. The number of incidents in our county each year is still far too high, and I know this is a concern to communities across the county.
“The Summit gives us the opportunity to gain experience from others and bring ideas that have succeeded in other places that we can bring back to Northamptonshire to tackle road safety.”
To apply for a grant, click on the following link: Grant Schemes – Northamptonshire Police & Fire Commissioner (northantspfcc.org.uk)
Complete the application form and follow the guidance on supporting material. Email your completed application to funding@northantspfcc.pnn.gov.uk
