Scottish Borders Council have been awarded funding of over £700,000 from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF) towards four rural road improvement schemes.

Road improvements work due to be carried out include:

• A701 Edinburgh to Moffat Road between Tweedsmuir and Tweedhopefoot

• B6357 Jedburgh to Newcastleton Road at Saughtree Grain

• B6357 Jedburgh to Newcastleton Road at Sandholm Bridge

• C34 Saughtree Cottages and Myredykes

A total of £710,705 has been awarded by the STTF for the routes, which alongside £373,245 of investment from ourselves means over £1million will be invested in the key rural roads.

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The STTF was set up by the Scottish Government in 2005 in recognition of the challenge faced in getting timber to market.

The awards are managed by Scottish Forestry. The STTF co-finances projects that will improve mostly minor rural roads throughout Scotland or that promote modal shift, taking lorries off the road and transporting timber to market by sea.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, said: "I am delighted Scottish Borders Council has been able to secure over £700,000 from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund.

"Alongside our investment of £373,000, these rural roads will be greatly improved, which I hope will be welcomed by local communities.

"This work follows an additional £2.3million committed to roads and pavements this year from our own budgets."

(MH/JG)