Roads grant to help local timber industry

Moray Council has been awarded £122,000 to help with the upkeep of roads which play a vital part in the area’s timber industry.

The award from the Scottish Timber Transport Scheme is being match funded by the council from a new budget for works on roads used for timber extraction.

Moray is one of the most heavily forested areas of Scotland and timber extraction is an important contributor to the local economy.

Well-maintained roads are important in ensuring that harvesting machinery and haulage vehicles can access areas where felling operations are being carried out.

The Moray Council funding bid was backed by the Grampian Timber Transport Group of which the council is a member along with timber producers, forest estate owners, the Forestry Commission and Aberdeenshire Council.

The bid had to meet certain criteria for use on approved timber transport routes and the funding will be used for edge strengthening on the C13E Dallas to Knockando road and the C25E near Roseisle. Carriageway recycling will also be carried out on the U105E Garrowslack road near Mosstowie.

The award was welcomed by Councillor Chris Tuke, who chairs Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee.

He said: “The timber industry is hugely important to the Moray economy and this funding, along with the funding already earmarked by the council, will help to facilitate harvesting and extracting operations.

“This contribution is most welcome and will help to alleviate the wear and tear on narrow rural roads.”