TRAFFIC calming on the A65 at Ingleton is one of six anti-speeding projects in Craven to receive a share of cash raised by the selling of the first numberplate used in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Six parish councils in Craven are amongst 81 community groups across the county to benefit from a third of a million pounds of investment in road safety improvements funded by the £243,000 sale of the historic AJ1 vehicle registration by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan.

Mrs Mulligan, who stands down from her role at the May elections, decided, along with North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lisa Winward, that the AJ1 mark was better invested in supporting communities and it was sold commercially at auction in 2019.

Cononley Parish Council and its speedwatch group will receive £8,750 towards its gateways scheme, while Carlton Parish Council will receive £3,250 towards its speed warning project.

Traffic calming on the A65 at Ingleton will be targeted by Ingleton Parish Council, which has received £1,400 from the fund, and Thornton-in-Craven Parish Council receives £1,364 towards its ‘village safer speeds’ project.

Bradleys Both Parish Council has been allocated £5,180 towards traffic surveys, and Gargrave Parish Council gets £928 to improve safety in the area around the rail station.

Part of the money raised by the sale was invested in improving the Memorial Garden at North Yorkshire Police headquarters while the remainder was put into the one-off AJ1 Fund.

Communities, parish and town councils were invited to put forward projects which focused on improving road safety for children and young people, cyclists, motorcyclists and older road users. There was huge demand with applications exceeding by four-times the amount available.

The panel awarded the £190,000 from the AJ1 Fund, and – due to the demand and standard of the bids – an additional £165,000 from other community funds was added making a total of £355,228.

Applications were checked with North Yorkshire highways, while decisions were made by a panel made up of the 95 Alive Partnership, police and the county council.

Mrs Mulligan said: “A third of a million pounds for road safety will make a huge difference to many communities and I look forward to seeing the impact of these 81 projects in the years ahead.

“Although the AJ1 numberplate will always have a historical connection to North Yorkshire Police, the impact these schemes will have confirms why it was right to use the value of the registration mark to make a real impact on people’s lives.

“These projects will improve lives - and I am sure they will also save lives - by making our roads and the communities they pass through safer for people however they use them.”