MORE than £1.1 million will be invested this year in projects to improve road safety and safe routes in Gwent communities.

Safe routes schemes for St David's RC Primary School in Newport (£205,000) and Croesyceiliog School in Cwmbran (£280,604), a safety camera upgrade on the A472 at Lower Race, Pontypool (£81,241), and a 20mph speed limit and traffic calming scheme for the Bulwark and Thornhill areas of Chepstow (£75,150), are among those that will be funded from the money, which will come - via councils - from a £10.8m Wales-wide investment announced by the Welsh Government.

The third phase of a safe route scheme for the Cwmffrwdoer, Pentwyn and Pentrepiod areas of Pontypool (£76,075) will also be funded, as will projects involving vehicle-activated road signs (£64,000) and cycle storage (£20,000) across Caerphilly county borough.

An accident remediation scheme is also set to go ahead for the A4049/A469 Waunborfa Road areas of Cefn Fforest and Pengam (£20,000).

A broad spectrum of road safety schemes across Gwent will also receive backing - including Kerbcraft, Cycle Training, and Pass Plus (a better driving programme for 17-25 year-olds) - costing a total of £288,708.

The Wales-wide aim of the investment is to promote the 'united and connected' theme in the Welsh Government’s economic plan Prosperity for All. This has as its key the delivery of modern and connected infrastructure projects along the healthy and active theme.

“Projects such as cycle training are invaluable if we are to encourage the next generation to see active travel as the natural choice for local journeys," said Lee Waters AM, deputy minister for economy and transport.

“The money awarded to capital projects will go to improve the infrastructure, which will make it possible for active travel to be safer for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.”