Grants offered for projects tackling speeding and road safety
Northamptonshire's PFCC launches latest round of Road Safety Fund
Parish councils, schools and community groups across Northamptonshire are being encouraged to apply for funding to help improve road safety in their local areas.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone has announced that grants of up to £5,000 are available through the county's Road Safety Fund.
The funding is aimed at supporting community-led projects designed to make roads safer, with previous grants helping to fund speed indicator devices and vehicle-activated warning signs.
Stone said road safety remains one of the biggest concerns raised by residents across the county.
According to the commissioner, there were 26 road fatalities and 331 serious injuries in Northamptonshire last year.
"It's the most talked-about topic when I'm out speaking to communities," she said.
"We've got to stop the deaths and serious injuries on our roads."
The commissioner said while police continue to tackle driver behaviour through initiatives aimed at young and older motorists, local communities also have an important role to play.
She praised the work of Speedwatch volunteers and parish councils that have introduced measures such as warning signs and speed awareness devices.
Stone said speeding, driver behaviour and road conditions continue to be key concerns.
She also highlighted issues including hidden junctions, overgrown vegetation obscuring road signs and the condition of roads as factors that can contribute to collisions.
Some communities are also calling for 20mph limits in residential areas and villages, a move Stone said she supports.
The commissioner said funding could help local groups deliver practical solutions tailored to the issues affecting their own communities.
She added that no group should feel too small to apply.
"Nobody's too small or insignificant to help us keep people safe," she said.
Schools, parish councils and community organisations interested in applying for the Road Safety Fund can find further details through the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner's office.