PCC grants extra funding to change driver behaviour and improve road safety

Communities with long-standing road safety issues are benefiting from extra funding to encourage motorists to slow down and heed speed limits.

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has set aside an additional £30k for community-driven road safety projects in response to the huge demand for grants in the latest round of his Community Action Fund.

The round exclusively focused on road safety – a top concern for the public – and attracted 55 applications worth over £340k – more than double the value of funding available.

As a result, the PCC has approved a further six projects as part of his ambitious mission to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the area’s roads and enhance support for communities.

Among the beneficiaries are Sproxton Parish Council which has received £3k for the purchase and installation of a mobile vehicle-activated sign on Sproxton Village Green to tackle long-standing residents’ concerns about speeding across the parish’s three villages.

Sharnford Parish Council has received £2,500 to introduce traffic-calming measures on Aston Lane to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety for all road users. Aston Lane is a busy access route, and speeding has been a long-standing concern for residents. The new measures will help slow vehicles as they approach the village.

Meanwhile, Market Bosworth Parish has secured £763.88 for the installation of four additional 20mph roundels across Rectory Lane, Park Street and Barton Road, along with a new ‘SLOW’ road marking on Barton Road, to reinforce the recently introduced 20mph speed limit and to improve driver compliance.

These markings will provide clear visual reminders for motorists to reduce speed, supporting the wider town centre improvement scheme completed in 2025. The project will also strengthen existing road safety measures and help create a safer environment for both drivers and pedestrians.

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said:

“Road safety is on everyone’s agenda – this was clear by the volume of applications I received when I launched the original funding round. The reasoning and need for so many of these proposals was strong, and so I am delighted to extend the funding to make a difference in these communities.

“Previous public surveys have shown a high level of concern about speeding and anti-social driving across all our communities – both urban and rural. I will not allow this recklessness to endanger lives without consequence and will support residents to take action to bring about change through education and practical deterrents.

“Road safety is society’s problem and impacts all of us. We must share the responsibility for protecting lives and preventing more unnecessary tragedies on our roads. I am grateful to all our community leaders and volunteers for their sterling efforts keeping Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s roads safe.”

The Community Action Fund forms part of the Commissioner’s exciting new approach to community safety which emphasises the power of prevention and partnerships to build safe and prosperous communities.

With the principle of ‘prevention’ at the heart of the PCC’s new Police and Crime Plan, the Commissioner is determined to equip communities with the skills, knowledge, funding and support they need to help residents thrive and stay safe.

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