First number plate to be registered in North Yorkshire is sold off to fund road safety

North Yorkshire's first vehicle registration which was once owned by the police chief constable has been sold – with the money used for road safety projects.
By Susie Beever
Published 24th Jun 2020, 06:00 BST
North Yorkshire Police's 'AJ1' registration, which was the first number plate registered in the county in 1903, pictured in 2007 with previous Chief Constable Grahame MaxwellNorth Yorkshire Police's 'AJ1' registration, which was the first number plate registered in the county in 1903, pictured in 2007 with previous Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell
North Yorkshire Police's 'AJ1' registration, which was the first number plate registered in the county in 1903, pictured in 2007 with previous Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell

The 'AJ1' number plate was first registered in the county - known then as the North Riding of Yorkshire - back in 1903.

Although once used on the chief constable's car, the registration is no longer in use and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has now revealed it has been sold on at auction for nearly £200k, which will in turn be invested back into the community.

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Julia Mulligan's office agreed alongside current chief constable Lisa Winward to sell the number plate on "for the good of North Yorkshire", and £190,000 has been split between improving the Memorial Garden at North Yorkshire Police's headquarters in Northallerton, as well as the 'AJ1 Project Fund' to fund community road safety projects.

North Yorkshire Police's 'AJ1' registration, which was the first number plate registered in the county in 1903, pictured in 2007 with previous Chief Constable Grahame MaxwellNorth Yorkshire Police's 'AJ1' registration, which was the first number plate registered in the county in 1903, pictured in 2007 with previous Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell
North Yorkshire Police's 'AJ1' registration, which was the first number plate registered in the county in 1903, pictured in 2007 with previous Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell

Ms Mulligan said: “When deciding to sell the AJ1 registration, we agreed it was important to invest the sale money in making communities safer and feeling safer, and that is what this AJ1 Project Fund aims to do.

“It will provide a focus on improving road safety for those who use our roads and those who live alongside them and allow communities – those who are best placed to know what changes are needed – to bid for the money needed to make the improvements happen.

“I would encourage Parish Councils and other groups to consider what would make a difference to residents and road users where they live and make an application to this fund.”

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Projects to be carried out as a result of the money raised will focus on road safety for children and young people, cyclists, motorcyclists and older road users, with bids invited from parish councils and other community groups.

One-off grants of up to £20,000 can be applied for and bids which include matched funding from other sources will be eligible to receive an additional 10 per cent on top of the amount requested.

An application process has been set up to receive grant applications, and panel members will include representatives of the 95 Alive Road Safety Partnership, which is made up of North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council, the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Highways Agency.

Chair of the 95Alive Road Safety Partnership Jon Foster said: “I’m delighted that this money has been made available to fund road safety projects throughout the county. If you are a group with ideas for a project that could improve road safety please put an application in.”