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News Release from: Forestry Commission | Subject: Timber transport projects
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 29 November 2006
Green light for timber transport
projects
Four new projects aiming to minimise the impact of timber transport on Scotland's rural roads have been awarded a cash boost of over GBP1 million from the STTF.
Rural communities across Scotland are set to benefit from a reduction in the number of timber lorries travelling on fragile roads, thanks to the GBP13m Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF) Four new projects aiming to minimise the impact of timber transport on Scotland's rural roads have been awarded a cash boost of over GBP1 million from the fund
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 1 Jun 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Cash boost for timber transport projects
Four projects aiming to minimise the impact of timber transport on Scotland's rural roads have become the first to benefit from a cash injection.
Cash boost for timber transport projects
Projects aiming to reduce the impact of timber transport on Scotland's rural roads have been given cash injection of over GBP3.7m through the Strategic Timber Transport Fund.
Announcing the successful projects, Scottish Forestry Minister, Rhona Brankin, said: "The fund has the potential to deliver many benefits to rural communities across the country, mitigate climate change impacts, reduce the environmental impact by providing access to sea and rail, and reduce lorry miles on fragile public roads.
"I am delighted to announce the second round of successful applicants which will deliver real community and environmental benefits for communities, especially on the West coast of Scotland".
The four projects that have been offered funding are: Tarbert By-pass, Argyll awarded GBP600,000.
Further reading
Forestry Commission Statistical Publications
A range of Forestry Commission statistical publications are issued as "National Statistics", on pre-announced dates.
Talk To The Trees - The Regional Woodland Strategy
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By upgrading 2.5km of the B8024 to create a preferred timber haul route, around 8,000 lorries a year will be removed from Tarbert town centre.
Dunoon timber haul route, Argyll awarded GBP324,034.
The project will ensure that some 423,300 cubic metres of timber to be harvested over the next 25 years will not need to go through Dunoon.
Nearly 10km of forest roads will be built or upgraded, along with a new 8m bridge to provide a new route for timber lorries.
This will provide a direct exit for timber onto the A885 (north).
Work will also be carried out on forest walks to provide tourism and recreational benefits.
Efforts by the Highland Timber Transport Council to develop and promote a timber transport strategy and solutions for the Highlands have been been assisted through an award of GBP43,333.
By collecting data on the how, where and when timber comes onto the roads, the project will prioritise areas needing action to prevent future problems, and to investigate where shifts to rail or sea are possible.
Glen Massan B836 Link, Argyll, awarded GBP39,046.
The construction of 1.35 km of new forest road and the upgrading of 2.5 km of existing road will give a direct exit for timber onto the B836, and remove around 300,000 tonnes of timber from a popular recreational route.
Recreation will be further improved through the creation of a circular walk or cycling route supplemented by picnic sites and viewpoints.
A number of other projects are still under consideration by Forestry Commission Scotland.
Ms Brankin also announced that payments from the STTF can continue beyond the original closing date of 31 March 2008 for projects approved before then.
Applications will now be considered during 2007 to allow the benefits of the fund to be maximised.
Forestry Commission Scotland recognises that finding solutions to timber transport problems can involve complex partnerships and engineering proposals, which can have a long lead-in and delivery times.
West coast communities also received a boost today, with the announcement that Associated British Ports has been awarded a new contract to run the TimberLink Service.
TimberLink ships around 100,000 tonnes of timber a year from the four ports of Ardrishaig, Campbeltown, Portavadie and Sandbank to Troon where it is then moved to local wood processing plants like Egger at Auchinleck, Caledonian Paper in Irvine, Mairs Sawmill in Irvine and Wilsons Sawmill in Troon.
This will ensure that the economic development around local ports will continue.
The service removes around 8,000 lorry journeys, or nearly 1,000,000 lorry miles a year from roads between Argyll and Ayrshire including the busy tourist routes on the Argyll peninsula and the A82 through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
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