MORE than a quarter of a million pounds generated by motorway average speed cameras on the M5 will go towards local road safety projects, Gloucestershire police and crime commissioner (PCC) Martin Surl has confirmed.

Average speed cameras, a health and safety requirement through motorway roadworks, on the M5 have raised about £270,000.

Mr Surl has confirmed that the money will go into a ‘problem solving hub’ to fund applications from towns, parishes and other groups to improve road safety.

The issue remains a priority for the PCC with this move being one of his first since re-election earlier this month.

About 50 town and parish councils expressed an interest in the scheme and they will now be asked to submit formal applications.

Mr Surl said: “I get more correspondence around road safety than anything else and it regularly cropped up when I talked to people during the election campaign.

“Safe and social driving remains one of my priorities. The money is a windfall I can use to invest in systems and partnerships that will enable us to tackle issues like speeding and hopefully come up with some new ideas to make our roads safer.

“Every parish and town council in the county was invited to bid when the idea was launched and there’s been a good response.

“My commissioning team will now be in touch with those who have come forward so I hope we can really get moving on this”.