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.

Seven projects aiming to reduce the impact of timber transport on Scotland's rural roads have been given the green light for a cash injection of over GBP3.7m through the Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF). The GBP13m fund aims to help the industry deliver practical solutions to reduce the impact of timber lorries on Scotland's rural roads and offer real benefits to rural communities. Announcing the successful projects, Sarah Boyack, Scottish Forestry Minister, said: 'The timber industry is a growing sector of the Scottish economy'.

'However, much of the timber resource is accessible only by fragile rural roads which were not built to meet the demands of modern road haulage'.

'The challenge, now that many of our forests are maturing, is to find ways to get the timber from forests to the processing mills, with minimum impact on local communities and other road users'.

'It is encouraging to see applications that involve partnerships between the forestry sector and local authorities working to identify and tackle issues before problems arise'.

''The biggest award made to date from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund will take a large number of timber lorries away from the village of Eskdalemuir, reducing the environmental impact and disruption to their community - which is exactly what the fund is designed to do.' The projects that have been offered funding are: Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, awarded GBP2.5million.

This is the biggest award made to date under the STTF.

It will remove around 10,500 timber lorry journey's away from the community by providing a sustainable transport route with the creation of 4.2km of new forest haulage route for timber lorries.

The project will also strengthen three sections of the B723 from Watcarrick to Sandyford Bridge and south of Boreland such that it can sustainably carry timber lorries and enable some additional beneficial developments to be carried out.

In addition, a new 3000 metre trail for walkers or cyclists will provide a valuable link from the Kagu Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre to the village, separating vehicle traffic from pedestrians using this busy route.

B836 Timber haul route, Argyll and Bute, awarded GBP655,000.

Road improvements will widen and strengthen the road allowing large vehicles to pass more easily and improve visibility and drainage on this significant haulage route.

Traffic calming measures will also be introduced at Clachaig village and Balagowan Bridge.

Arran link road, North Ayrshire, awarded GBP318,000.

The link road will allow timber lorries to travel through five different forests, taking lorries away from public roads.

It will also have additional tourism benefits by creating a new forest road route for walkers and cyclists.

South of Scotland Timber Transport Officer, Ayrshire, Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, awarded GBP85,000.

The officer will analyse current timber transport issues and seek ways to identify and overcome local problems.

Peaton Hill Timber Haulage Route, Argyll and Bute, awarded GBP45,000.

A new section of forest road will be built to link forests to a new access point at Peaton Hill.

This will remove around 4,000 lorry movements passing through Kilcreggan and Garelochhead and almost completely relieve timber lorries on the B833.

Ardfern Bypass, Argyll and Bute, awarded GBP40,000.

The creation of new forest roads and the up-grading of 3km of farm track will remove timber lorries from the minor roads through Ardfern and the B8002 single track road.

Round Timber Haulage Driver Training programme, Dumfries and Galloway, awarded GBP17,700.

This project will develop and pilot a training course to provide specialist training for timber hauliers in safe and fuel-efficient loading and in forest driving.

This will help mitigate the environmental and social cost of timber haulage, reduce carbon emissions and improve safety.