TIGHTENING budgets could soon lead to major cuts to programmes designed to teach schoolchildren vital road safety skills, a new report has warned.

The next few years will see a 50 per cent cut in council funding for road safety programmes in schools and a scheme to get more young people more active through walking and cycling.

“Alternative sources” of funding for the schemes may now have to be found if they are to continue.

A report to Bradford Council’s environment and waste management scrutiny committee revealed that in the next financial year (2018/19), funding for the road safety team will be cut by £62,500. This will be followed by a further cut of the same amount the following year.

And the active schools travel programme, which gets young people to live a more healthy lifestyle by promoting walking and cycling, will be cut by £28,000 in 2018/19, and £28,000 in 2019/20.

The report adds: “Without sourcing extra finance, the cuts could result in the downsizing of the road safety team and the active schools travel programme.

“If the shortfall is not sourced, there is a risk to delivery around education, training and publicity to more vulnerable groups in areas of high risk, given there is a link between casualty levels and deprivation.”

Simon D’Vali, chairman of the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, said: “We are looking at alternative sources of funds and applications will also be made to the Government for any funding streams that become available.”

Bingley Rural councillor Simon Cooke, Conservative group leader on the council, said: “It is becoming increasingly hard to determine where the decisions to fund which schemes are made. We hear of huge amounts of money coming from speed cameras and bus lane cameras, and this money could be invested in making our roads safer.”