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Ref: 244/08                                                                                                 21 July 2008

National Transport Award For County Council

Cheshire County Council’s Road Safety Unit has beaten off stiff competition to win a prestigious National Transport honour.

The Road Safety Traffic Management and Enforcement Award recognises the real difference the County Council’s A41 campaign has made to reduce crashes and encourage drivers to take more care on the A41 between Chester’s Sainsbury’s roundabout and the junction with Chester Zoo.

The County Council worked closely with Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service in a campaign which combined engineering and education as well as working closely with local people to reduce the number of collisions.

This included targeted enforcement initiatives, training and advice for drivers, installation of new traffic signals and campaign warning signs.

Focus group work with local residents formed the basis of a hard-hitting publicity and information campaign aimed at drivers living in CH2 and CH3 post code areas aged 45 plus, travelling within the speed limit and driving on the A41 between 8-9am, 1-2pm and 4-5pm.

Executive Member for Highways and Transportation County Councillor Eveleigh Moore-Dutton said: “This award is a tribute to the hard work of the County’s Road Safety Unit, their colleagues in Communications and the way in which they focused their efforts on undertaking activities that have really made a difference.

“This would not have been possible without the careful analysis and focus group work that took place in advance of the campaign.”

Cheshire’s Director of Environment Tom McCabe said: “We work very closely with Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and that partnership has been crucial in reducing the numbers of collisions in the area.

“I am very proud of everyone involved from the County Council and the good work they continue to do.”

The national Transport Awards in association with Transport Times magazine are supported by the Department for Transport.

PHOTO CAPTION: Road Safety Manager Richard Nickson with Executive Member for Highways and Transportation Eveleigh Moore-Dutton and Director of Environment Tom McCabe.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For further information please contact County Councillor Moore-Dutton on 07711 817060, Director of Environment Tom McCabe on 01244 972103 and Road Safety Manager Richard Nickson on 01244 973600.