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Michael Russell MSP officially opens the new timber haulage route at Eskdalemuir

A new timber haulage route, which will take more than 10,500 Heavy Goods Vehicles off the roads of Eskdalemuir, will be opened officially by Michael Russell, MSP today.

Creation of the new route, a project led and managed by UPM Tilhill on behalf of a partnership of Private Forest Owners and Managers, Forestry Commission Scotland and the local authority, will ensure the Eskdalemuir timber industry’s £5m annual contribution to Scotland’s economy is maintained. The reduction in HGV traffic will also improve life for local communities and the Samye Ling Tibetan Centre.

South of Scotland MSP Mike Russell said: “I am delighted to see the Eskdalemuir timber haul road completed. The nearly three miles of forestry road will take more than 10,500 lorry journeys off the roads around the village, which can only serve to improve the quality of life for local residents, the Samye Ling Centre and other road users.

“UPM Tilhill, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Forestry Commission Scotland are to be congratulated for completing such an eminently sensible solution to a distinctly rural problem. The new multi-user trail is a superb addition to the many facilities for outdoor use in Dumfries and Galloway and compliments the existing 7 Stane mountain biking range throughout the region.”

George McRobbie, Operations Director, UPM Tilhill, said: “It is a great pleasure for us to open this important link road – UPM Tilhill is keen to support initiatives like the Eskdalemuir timber haulage route, that benefit the wider forestry industry and local communities alike. I would like to thank our project team, the route and multi-user trails are a credit to their dedication and hard work.

“I would also like to thank Michael Russell MSP for joining us today, and for his support throughout this project.”

The £4.6m project has been part funded by Forestry Commission Scotland through the Strategic Timber Transport Fund with additional funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council, Kronospan and UPM Tilhill.

The Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF) was initially set up in 2005 to develop timber transport solutions to strategic issues and facilitate sustainable transport of timber in rural areas for the benefit of local communities and the environment.

Bob McIntosh, Director, Forestry Commission Scotland, said: “This is the culmination of a long-term project that will ultimately benefit the timber industry in Dumfries and Galloway, as well as those local communities that for many years have lain on timber transport routes.

“It is a showcase project that will serve as an ideal model of how government and the private sector can work together to help the timber industry develop more sustainable ways of working.”

Following the official opening Michael Russell will travel the route in a timber wagon, before alighting at Eskdalemuir village. Here he will open the new ‘Multi-user Trail’ from Eskdalemuir to Samye Ling Tibetan centre – built as part of the haulage route project.

The new multi-user trail will increase south Scotland’s countryside trails for pedestrian, mountain bike and equestrian recreational activities and segregate these activities from vehicular traffic. Hopefully this will also encourage people to take exercise more often, and encourage more tourism in the area.

Councillor Roger Grant, Chair, Dumfries and Galloway Council Planning, Housing and Environment Committee, said: “Dumfries and Galloway is a major timber producing area. Forestry and related processing employs over 2,000 people in the region. So the Council felt that it was vital to help to fund a project that could support the industry, improve the lives of people living in and around Eskdalemuir and protect our fragile roads network. We are pleased to have been able to work with our partners on this new route. The Council acknowledges the impact of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund and it is hopeful that the Government will continue to support the fund in the future.”

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For further information please contact:
Ruth Roy
01892 861008/07771 940494
ruth.roy@upm-kymmene.com

Notes to editors:
Strategic Timber Transport Find: The STTF project began in 2004 with Dumfries and Galloway Timber Transport Group and the case study project was Eskdalemuir. With a lot of hard work and determination, the STTF's third and highest award in March 2007 was awarded to UPM Tilhill as lead applicant for the project. The £4.6m project received £2.9 m grant funded with a further £1.7 million co-financed from Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Forestry Commission, Kronospan and UPM Tilhill.

UPM Tilhill is the UK’s largest timber harvesting company, harvesting over 2.0 million tonnes per year, and is the market leader in UK forest management. The company provides a full range of consultancy and contracting services to the forest owner and forestry investor. In 2005, the company received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade. Further information is available on the company’s website at www.upm-tilhill.com.

UPM is one of the world's leading forest industry groups. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. Our competitiveness is based on cost leadership, change readiness and leading innovation. The Group employs around 24,000 people and it has production facilities in 14 countries. In 2008, UPM made sales of EUR 9.5 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. www.upm-kymmene.com