Summary
The Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF) supports projects that make timber transport safer and more sustainable. It helps build forest roads, upgrade public roads, and develop sea and rail transport options.
Background
2025 is an auspicious year for forestry haulage. The STTF has been operating for 20 years, and TimberLINK in service for 25 years.
Although TimberLINK actually started in 2000, in part due to windblown timber arising from the major storms of 1999, the original STTF of £13m was introduced in 2005 for a three year period.
Subsequently, it was extended for a further three years to 2011 with an annual budget of £5m. This included a maximum £1m allocation to the TimberLINK shipping service.
The fund continued thereafter with a budget of £3m/year (including TimberLINK) until 2016.
Therefore, the SF contribution was reduced to £2.85m enhanced with an extra £5 million from Transport Scotland giving 7.85m/year until 2019.
