Member Article

North East forestry sector set to blossom with new partnership

The North East Timber Transport Group has partnered with Northumberland County Council to launch a new map of agreed routes for timber lorries to take through Northumberland.

The transport of timber to market is an important part of a plan for the growth and development of the forestry sector in Northern England, which has recently been launched.

The new ‘Agreed Routes Map’ (ARM) was signed this week by John Paterson, chair of the North East Timber Transport Group and director of Egger Forestry Ltd, and Barry Rowland, Northumberland County Council’s executive director of local services.

The group has worked with Northumberland and other local authorities to consider the transport infrastructure and plans to facilitate timber transport and reduce the impact of timber vehicles on rural roads and communities.

The ARM will steer timber wagons along the most suitable roads, avoiding wear to other carriageways as well as conflict with other road users in traffic sensitive areas.

The council has been working with other authorities and the timber industry as a whole in a bid to unlock the full economic potential of the forestry sector in Northern England, helping to put the case for more support for the industry.

Launch of the maps follows on from the recent launch of ‘Roots to Prosperity’ a new strategy and action plan which proposes investment of around £23million to unlock in excess of 1,000 jobs and deliver low carbon growth and sustainable economic development across rural and urban communities.

Policy board member for streetcare and environment at Northumberland County Council, Councillor Ian Swithenbank, said: “In Northumberland and the north east the forestry industry is very important to the rural economy, and we are working in partnership with the industry including other key players such as the Forestry Commission to look at issues around how timber is transported on rural roads.

“The launch of these official maps is very good news.

“We hope that they will be very helpful to the timber trade and are also designed to take into account the council’s highways maintenance programme – allowing us to target resources appropriately across our road network.”

“Northumberland is home to a large proportion of the forestry in Northern England – including Kielder, the largest man made forest in Northern Europe, together with other key strategic forests.”

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