THE future of Safe Drive, Stay Alive will be decided at Monday's special budget meeting at Clackmannanshire Council.

Councillors are expected to greenlight a £3,000 funding contribution to the road safety show, while committing to help safeguard its message for future generations.

The SNP, who have recently retaken command at Kilncraigs, will present their budget proposals to council early next week.

Among the funding organisations will be the Central Safe Drive group, who run the week-long roadshows at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling each year.

The commitment from Clacks councillors comes after Falkirk announced they would offer almost £5,000 to Safe Drive, Stay Alive in their budget for 2017-18.

Stirling Council have also said they will support the project, but have not yet outlined what funding they will tender.

Councillor Ellen Forson, Clackmannanshire Council's education spokesperson, said: "The Safe Drive, Stay Alive Roadshow sends an important, hard-hitting message to our young people about the long-lasting implications of irresponsible driving.

"And it is effective, with stats showing a reduction in road accidents involving young people over the lifetime of the programme.

"This is why I am delighted to confirm that the SNP have committed £3,000 of funding to the Safe Drive, Stay Alive initiative in this year's budget and I will continue to work with Alan Faulds and the rest of the team to ensure the long term sustainability of the programme."

The news comes after the Advertiser campaigned to ensure Safe Drive, Stay Alive will continue to reach thousands of school pupils in central Scotland every year.

Funding pressures had placed the initiative under threat, but #KeepSafeDrive received the backing of MSPs Alex Rowley, Mark Ruskell and Alexander Stewart – who secured a debate on the matter at the Scottish Parliament earlier this month.

Mr Stewart added: "I'm delighted to hear the news from Clackmannanshire. If that is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle now complete, then this is a major step forward.

"We're going to have to keep up the pressure to make sure the funding remains in place for the coming years. I don't mind leading the charge with my colleagues in the Scottish Parliament: Alex Rowley, Mark Ruskell and anyone else who wants to get involved.

"We will keep fighting each and every year if we have to and will build on the cross-party support this campaign already has."