U-turn needed on safety project cash

Dear Editor I am committed to doing anything possible to help secure the future of the Safe Drive, Stay Alive Project which is held annually at the Macrobert Centre and gives children across Forth Valley a unique insight into the dangers of unsafe driving and speeding.

Last year I was delighted to have helped secure funding from the budgets of Forth Valley’s three councils for 2017-2018.

During a debate on the matter, the Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf was extremely proactive and this gave us encouragement that the SNP Scottish Government would consider the project in their plans for the forthcoming 2018-2019 fiscal year.

To this end, we decided to put in a written question asking what support the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland plans to give to this project in each of the next three years.

I was acutely disappointed however to have received, in a reply from the office of Humza Yousaf, indication that the current application process for grants had recently concluded without an award to the Safe Drive, Stay Alive Project.

The SNP Government has completely turned its back on what is an extremely useful, hard- hitting and effective road safety production which involves real people – youngsters and adults alike – who have had their lives tragically turned around by the effects of serious road traffic accidents.

Alan Faulds, his team and all the emergency service members put in so much tireless effort, above and beyond their own day-to- day duties, and this latest decision feels so much like a total snub.

I cannot commend their work highly enough and with this in mind, I urge the Scottish Government to rethink and reconsider Safe Drive, Stay Alive for funding because of all the invaluable work it does in the education of others as to the dangers on the Stirling and Clackmannanshire roads and beyond.

Alexander Stewart MSP Mid Scotland and Fife