Moray to receive timber transport funding
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ROADS in Moray will benefit from £242,000 of Scottish Government funding to reduce the impact of timber lorries.
The money is part of £6.6 million that has been allocated to projects across Scotland from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund, managed by Scottish Forestry.
It will go towards the improvement of rural and mainly minor roads, and also support the post of a timber transport project officer who gives advice across Grampian, Stirling and Tayside.
Announcing the funding, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, Fergus Ewing, said: "Scotland’s £1 billion forestry industry is going from strength to strength, producing millions of tonnes of high quality timber every year that will greatly benefit our rural economy. However, it is important that we do what we can to mitigate the impact on local communities of increased volumes of timber coming to market.
"That is the key purpose of the Timber Transport Fund and it is encouraging to know that local authorities and forest owners continue to bring forward project ideas that will facilitate the sustainable transport of timber and ultimately benefit local communities and the environment."
The money will be used on a number of C-class roads in the area, including the Bogs of Dalvey to Earsmill Fedan road, the Darnaway to Relugas stretch and the Dallas to Knockando road.
In addition, a section of the B9009 from Dufftown to the junction with the B9008 will undergo works.
David Sulman of the Confederation of Forest Industries, and chair of the fund's assessment panel, said: "This funding is greatly needed to improve our rural roads to suit modern land uses such as forestry. Work on minor roads – whether it is strengthen the road surface, widening corners, adding traffic calming measures or providing passing places – makes it easier for local residents and business to share the rural road network."
The projects supported not only ensure the continuing steady stream of quality timber to processors across the country but also reduce the number of road miles required to transport timber to port.
