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Scots timber needs ElOm for access
Page 16
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Timber plantations need new roads to stay accessible, says Guy Sheppard.
TIMBER INDUSTRY leaders are calling for Lift a year to be spent on upgrading Scotland's transport infrastructure to improve access to isolated plantations.
The UK Timber Transport Forum wants the Scottish Executive to set up a fund to ensure that timber harvesting in the region remains commercially viable.
Anne Angus, project officer for the forum,says:"The forests ready to he harvested over the next 20 years will he considerably greater than in the past 20 years.
"If we were allowed 110tn a year it would generate economic benefits to Scotland worth £340m over 20 years."
She adds that 90% of timber harvested in Scotland is carried by road and much of any extra investment would be devoted to expanding the network of forest tracks and upgrading rural roads so they can carry HG Vs. Rail and sea freight facilities would need to be improved too.
"Transport costs associated with moving timber in the UK are much greater than in many other parts of the world," she says. "If we were able to solve some of the problem areas the industry would he much more productive."
She adds that a decision on the fund plan. which is supported by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Forest Industry Development Council, is expected in the next fortnight.
Callum McFadyen. MD of McFadyen Transport in Campbeltown on the west coast of Scotland. says: "They planted trees after the war but nobody ever thought of putting roads in once the trees matured. Many times we have to tow or push our lorries out of a site to keep the job going."