SAFER road crossing points, traffic calming and car sharing rotas are amongf the measures taken in Redditch as part of a £11.5 million cash boost.

Worcestershire County Council highways unit has been granted the Government cash, which is more than double the allocation made last year.

And Redditch will gain a substantial amount of the money to spend on a variety of road improvements, including the safer routes to school initiative.

The scheme will target residents and urge them to get out of their cars and onto public transport or walk or cycle to schools.

Highways partnership unit manager for Redditch Jim Casey said: It is excellent news for Redditch. The money will be spent on traffic calming schemes and footpath building and up-grading.

The safer routes to school strategy also includes parent-child cycle training, new and more direct entrances to schools, controlled car parking outside schools and parent escort rotas for children walking and cycling.

Mr Casey added: We are looking at installing traffic calming measures on Studley Road, where there have been a number of accidents and there are schools.

And we are also looking at traffic calming on Feckenham Road, Astwood Bank. But both will go out for public consultation and we will have an exhibition at the town hall where people can air their views.